Information output device and method, information reception device and method, information provision device and method, recording medium, information provision system, and program

ABSTRACT

The present invention enables the continuous output of appropriate information at an appropriate timing and in appropriate order with minimal operation. The master control unit  451  controls the output of an aggregate based on an event response control program associated with the aggregate which contains the information being output, of the event response control programs having described therein a command for an event associated with each of the aggregates, and in correspondence with the event. The play list reader  452  controls the output of the information contained in the aggregate based on ordinal data associated with the aggregate, the output of which has been instructed by the master control unit  451,  of the ordinal data having described therein the output order of the information associated with each of the aggregates. The present invention may be applied to an in-car information provision terminal device.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to an information output deviceand method, an information reception device and method, an informationprovision device and method, a recording medium, an informationprovision system, and a program, and in particular to an informationoutput device and method, an information reception device and method, aninformation provision device and method, a recording medium, aninformation provision system, and a program for handling information tobe provided to a user.

BACKGROUND ART

In the broadcasting sector, such as in BS (Broadcasting Satellite)digital broadcasts, program details and information such as news arebeing provided separately from the main image information based onoperations with a remote controller.

In the communications sector, pursuant to the advancement of networktechnology, data communication requiring a broadband communication pathas in conventional radio broadcasts or TV broadcasts is now possible viathe Internet. In recent years, conventional broadcast-type services,such as the distribution of image data, are being provided at variousplaces in the communications sector utilizing the Internet or the like.Further, using a web browser and acquiring various types of informationfrom across the globe is widely prevalent and has become common.

Nevertheless, since these are being provided with individualtechnologies or services, a user is required to properly use therespective schemes. This will raise a significant problem from theperspective of convenience.

In light of the existing circumstances described above, a system capableof realizing a service that blends the characteristics of bothbroadcasting and communication is being strongly desired.

As a specific example, although it is common to listen to FM (FrequencyModulation) radio while driving a vehicle, the driver is only able tolisten to information being provided in real time by the broadcastingstation. In other words, since a music program may be on the air whenthe [driver] actually wishes to listen to the weather forecast, or newsmay be on the air when the [driver] actually wishes to listen to trafficinformation, the broadcast is not providing a service that enables the[listener] to listen to information of one's choice at any time onepleases.

Meanwhile, when installing and using a personal computer having awireless connection means for connection to the Internet in a car,although it is possible to operate the web browser and acquire allinformation accessible via the Internet, it is impossible to operatesuch [personal computer] with the existing user interface while drivinga vehicle.

A user is not wishing to individually take advantage of various devicesto obtain any and all information regarding all subjects of one'sinterest, but is rather wishing to receive necessary information whenneeded.

In day-to-day life, when the main action is to acquire information in asituation of watching a drama on TV, there is no significant problem inthe distribution of programs even with the existing system.

Nevertheless, when the main action is the operation of a vehicle such asdriving a car, it could be said that the act of listening to news,weather forecast or traffic information from an FM radio, operating acar audio system with a CD (Compact Disc) changer to play music, andacquiring route guide information while watching the display of the carnavigation device is an extremely dangerous act from the perspective ofthe [driver's] attention being diverted from the driving operation.

A situation requiring the acquisition of information being sent from theoutside via a network, such as with an Internet information service,network-type operation management system, portable phone, or email,while engaging in the main action of driving or operation, has increasedrapidly in recent years. In the foregoing case, diverting one'sattention from the main action needlessly raises problems in terms ofsafety as described above.

Moreover, it could be said that a user focusing one's consciousness tothe acts listed below is under a situation wherein it is difficult topay attention to a plurality of information sources at the same time:

-   Driving or operation of a vehicle, aircraft or ship;-   Desk work, assembly, packaging or various operations of machines,    devices or equipment servicing;-   Appreciation of movies or music;-   Work, studying or reading; and-   Conversation with others during servicing, meetings or    presentations.

In addition, a user focusing one's consciousness to the acts listedbelow will have problems in terms of safety when paying attention to aplurality of information sources at the same time:

-   Act of operating transports such as a vehicle, motorcycle, aircraft,    ship or train in a particularly dangerous situation;-   Operation of a crane;-   Operation or handling of dangerous objects at high places; and-   Other operations requiring a high level of concentration.

In order to enable the [user] to focus one's consciousness to the mainaction, the [user] must be able to collectively acquire necessaryinformation with minimal operation. In order to realize this, thefollowing requirements are necessary:

-   (A) Information sources are integrated, and it is not necessary to    pay attention to a plurality of information sources at the same    time;-   (B) It is possible to designate which information is necessary;-   (C) Concentration will not be lost even upon performing the    operation for obtaining information;-   (D) There is hardly any unnecessary information in the presented    information;-   (E) Relationship of the information is organized and presented;-   (F) Appropriate information is provided at an appropriate timing and    in appropriate order;-   (G) Information requiring renewal is automatically renewed;-   (H) It is possible to prevent the user from overlooking necessary    information; and-   (I) Information is provided with an appropriate provision method    according to the situation.

As described below, all requirements (A) to (I) must be satisfied inorder to “reliably provide information in an appropriate amount asrequired by a user at an appropriate timing and in appropriate order andenable the effective use thereof to such user who is under a situationwhere it is difficult to pay attention to a plurality of informationsources at the same time as a result of engaging in a main action otherthan obtaining information”.

When any one of the requirements is not satisfied, it is not possible tosufficiently achieve the object since the user's attention will bediverted from the main action.

Requirements (A) to (I) are explained in detailed below.

When requirement (A) is not satisfied, as shown in FIG. 1, if aplurality of information sources for acquiring information is dispersed,the user 1, in order to receive information, must pay attention to eachinformation source, confirm the type of information that has arrived,and sort out the necessary information.

When requirement (B) is not satisfied, as shown in FIG. 2, if it is notpossible to designate the necessary information, the user 1 will alsoreceive unnecessary information in addition to the necessaryinformation, and, since the user 1 will have to sort out the necessaryinformation among the presented information, attention will be divertedfrom the main action.

When requirement (C) is not satisfied, as shown in FIG. 3, if numerousoperations are required in the information provision device 11 foracquiring information, since the user 1 will be distracted by theoperation of the terminal, attention will be diverted from the mainaction.

When requirement (D) is not satisfied, as shown in FIG. 4, if there ismuch unnecessary information among the presented information, since theuser 1 will have to sort out the necessary information among thepresented information, attention will be diverted from the main action.

When requirement (E) is not satisfied, as shown in FIG. 5, ifinformation is presented in an unorganized manner when the user 1 wishesto receive various types of information, since the [user 1] will focuson receiving and utilizing information, attention will be diverted fromthe main action.

When requirement (F) is not satisfied, as shown in FIG. 6, ifappropriate information is not provided at an appropriate timing and inappropriate order, since the user 1 will have to understand theplurality of types of information provided at the same time and selectthe necessary information, switch to another information source tosearch for the necessary information, or perform operations forswitching the order, attention will be diverted from the main action.

When requirement (G) is not satisfied, as shown in FIG. 7, it isnecessary to renew the information to be provided in correspondence tothe change of the user 1 or the change in the environment. When[information] is not automatically renewed, since the user 1 will haveto check to see whether the information was renewed, attention will bediverted from the main action.

When requirement (H) is not satisfied, a shown in FIG. 8, in a casewhere the user 1 may be unaware and overlook the information presentedfrom the information source, since the user 1 will have to pay attentionso as not to overlook important information, attention will be divertedfrom the main action.

When requirement (I) is not satisfied, as shown in FIG. 9, if the methodof providing information to the user 1 is inappropriate when informationis presented from the information source, attention of the user will bediverted from the main action.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing whether the conventional informationprovision systems satisfy the respective requirements (A) to (I). InFIG. 10, a double circle shows that it is favorable, and a circle showsthat it is somewhat favorable. In FIG. 10, a triangle shows that it issomewhat inferior, and an X shows that it is inferior.

Although there have been numerous methods for providing information tousers from the past, all of these methods only satisfy a part of therequirements (A) to (I), and there was no method that satisfied all ofthe above.

The following is an examination of the individual methods.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the problems in contentsdistribution employing a broadcast receiver such as a TV set or a radiobroadcast receiver. In other words, FIG. 11 is a diagram for explainingthe problems upon acquiring information from a transmission medium suchas a TV broadcast or radio broadcast.

In a transmission medium such as a TV broadcast or radio broadcast,information predetermined based on the day of the week or the time slotis continuously provided to the user. The user 1, once turning on thepower of the TV set 22 or the radio broadcast receiver 23, will be ableto continuously and constantly receive information without having tomake any complicated operation in particular.

Nevertheless, information from the TV set 22 or radio broadcast receiver23 is determined based on the convenience or intention of theinformation provider side (transmitter 21), and the user 1 cannotnecessarily acquire one's desired information at an appropriate timing.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the problems in contentsdistribution employing a web browser device. The referral relationshipof information is sufficiently managed in contents distribution via theInternet, and the user 1 is able to operate a PC (Personal Computer) orthe like with one's intention to acquire one's desired information.

Nevertheless, in order to acquire information, the user 1 will have tooperate an input device such as a mouse 32 or keyboard 33 of aninformation terminal device 31 such as a PC and view the image displayedon a monitor 34. In other words, since the [user 1] will have to payclose attention to this operation, even if there are other items ofinterest, it is difficult to implement two or more acts concurrently.Further, in order to acquire information, since the user 1 will have toactively operate the information terminal, the user 1 is not able tocontinuously acquire information as with the TV set 22 or radiobroadcast receiver 23.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the problems in contentsdistribution employing a recording media (e.g., CD or DVD (DigitalVersatile Disc)) reproduction device.

A recording media 41 such as a CD or DVD has recorded thereoninformation required by the user 1. Information recorded on therecording media 41 is fixed. The user 1 may listen to (view) thecontents of one's choice stored in the recording media.

Nevertheless, when wishing to listen to (view) something other than thecontents that are currently being played, an operation of searching fora desired CD or DVD and replacing the disc in the player 42 will becomenecessary on a case-by-case basis. Further, since the contents stored inthe recording media are fixed, when listening to (viewing) new contents,it is necessary to purchase such [new contents] at a shop (outletstore).

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining the problems in contentsdistribution employing a music player with a built-in hard disk.

A music player 51 with a built-in hard disk is able to store largevolumes of data, and continuously provide music of the user's choicewithout the user 1 having to make any particular operation.

Nevertheless, since music will not be automatically renewed, unless newmusic is stored in the hard disk, the same music will be continuouslyplayed. If so, the user 1 will become bored of the music that isrepeatedly played, and the same problem as playing a CD will arise. Inother words, in order to play new music, it is necessary to store datain the hard disk, and the operation thereof will become required. Unlessthis operation is performed, the user 1 will become bored of the musicthat is repeatedly played, and the same problem as playing a CD willarise.

FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining the problems in contentsdistribution employing a car navigation system.

A car navigation system 71 provides information to become the judgmentmaterial for determining the route based on positional information. Fromthis perspective, the car navigation system 71 is able to promptlyprovide appropriate information.

Nevertheless, operation of the car navigation system 71 is complicated,and the driver as the user 1 while driving the vehicle will have todivert one's attention and line of sight from driving, and it is highlylikely that this will lead to a dangerous situation. Further, inside avehicle, there may also be cases where the operation of other devicessuch as an air conditioner 72, car audio system 73 or portal phone 74becomes necessary, and it is also necessary to pay attention to a meterpanel 75, pedestrian 81, sidewalk 82, preceding vehicle 83 and trafficlane 84. Thus, operation of the car navigation system 71 is a difficultoperation for a driver while driving a vehicle. In recent years,although there is a car navigation system 71 that can be operated byvoice activation, since information is acquired among countless menus,it cannot be said that accurate information can be provided in justproportion with only the voice command.

Moreover, since a portable phone, facsimile, email transmitter/receiverterminal device and Internet phone require numerous operations, the useof these devices is the most difficult for a user engaged in some kindof activity.

FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining the problems in contentsdistribution employing a communication information terminal device.

When the user 1 using a communication information terminal device 101receives an email 102, since such [user 1] must view the screen, performoperations such as key input, and confirm the changing screen, it is notpossible to perform such operations while engaged in another activity.

Although it is possible to receive and send emails by setting acommunication module in a personal portable information terminal devicesuch as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), the constitution is suchthat the operation is made with a touch panel or keyboard, and this isnot a simple operation that can be performed while engaged in anotheractivity.

Certain car navigation systems have realized the transmission andreception of emails with operations similar to PDAs.

Nevertheless, for instance, a system of consolidating all functions in acar navigation system, displaying menus for performing these operationson the screen, and the user performing such operations while viewing thescreen will require extremely complicated operations, and, since it willtake much time just to look over the menus, the [user] will have nochoice but to focus on the operation of the car navigation system. It isimpossible to engage in other activities while performing suchoperations.

FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining the problems in contentsdistribution employing a web browser device and Internet.

A contents producer 121 edits the contents (information) with anauthoring tool, and provides the contents to the user 1. The contentsproducer 121 manually renews the contents.

The user 1 operates the mouse 32 on the web browser, moves the mousepointer 131 on the screen and clicks the [mouse 32] to display one'sdesired information on the screen. Even if only one type of contents isprovided from the contents producer 121, the web browser will display ascreen with different types of information based on the operation by theuser 1.

Nevertheless, with only one type of contents, when this is viewed by aplurality of users 122, it will not be possible to meet the differentneeds of each user 122.

Further, as a result of using a multimedia authoring tool (e.g., FLASH(trademark) of Macromedia), it is possible to provide a service thatchanges dynamically by detecting an event such as the operation of thekeyboard 33 or clicking of the mouse 32 and switching the contentsdisplayed on the screen.

Nevertheless, the subject matter to be changed in accordance with theevent must be described in the contents in advance. Therefore, thesubject matter of the contents will not change unless the contentsproducer 121 manually renews the subject matter of the contents. As withthe case illustrated in FIG. 17, the contents prepared in advance canonly be changed within the scope that the contents were created at thetime of editing; i.e., at the preparatory stage.

In order to prepare in advance the contents meeting the needs of theusers 122 in the respective terminals as separate data for each user122, the contents producer 121 needs to use the multimedia authoringtool and prepare multimedia data in advance for each user 122. In a casewhere there are more than several hundred users 122, it is entirelyunrealistic to prepare multimedia contents for each user 122 in advance.

Moreover, the gazette of Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No.2000-215211 discloses guiding scripts having time information andplacing information for guides and guide information and describing aninstruction sequence capable of expressing those information by a timesequence by using a mark-up language are prepared in a center or amedium, wherein a script conversion unit converts a guiding scriptselected by an operation input unit into structured data for guide andtransfers the converted data to an instruction processing unit, and theprocessing unit executes an instruction coincident with current time ora current position obtained from a state acquiring unit based on thestructured data and a guide output unit outputs a guide.

An object of the present invention is to enable the acquisition ofinformation in a state of focusing on the main action.

Conventional technology can be analyzed as follows.

As an example of “reliably providing information in an appropriateamount as required by a user at an appropriate timing and in appropriateorder to such user who is under a situation where it is difficult to payattention to a plurality of information sources at the same time as aresult of engaging in a main action other than obtaining information”,there is a service to be provided to a driver driving a car.

Under the existing circumstances, there are various devices inside avehicle, and since each of these [devices] is operated independently,the user is required to simultaneously use the plurality of deviceswhile driving the vehicle.

For example, in addition to the operation of driving the vehicle andviewing the peripheral environment or meter panel of the vehicle, the[driver] will have to pay attention to the operation of the airconditioner, incoming calls and emails of the portable phone, operationof the CD changer, traffic information of the FM radio, route guide ofthe car navigation system, screen of the car navigation system and soon, and, while personally judging which information is necessary andutilizing such necessary information, the [driver] will have to conductextremely difficult activities such as adjusting the volume, operatingthe air conditioner and opening/closing the window.

To pay attention to numerous items while driving a vehicle will lead tothe attention being diverted from the driving operation, and there is asignificant problem in terms of safety. Further, since the user'soperation will be extremely complicated, there is also a problem interms of convenience. A similar situation will arise to a rider riding amotorcycle, a worker engaged in work operations, and a pedestrian tryingto do something in an unfamiliar location, and this is similar to thesituation encountered by a driver driving a vehicle.

As a common problem to be resolved for “a user who is under a situationwhere it is difficult to pay attention to a plurality of informationsources at the same time as a result of engaging in a main action otherthan obtaining information”, it is necessary to “reliably provideinformation in an appropriate amount as required by a user at anappropriate timing and in appropriate order”.

As a result of resolving this problem, “information will be effectivelyutilized” under the foregoing conditions.

By merely consolidating the functions of every terminal into a singleterminal, operations of the user for selecting which function to usewill increase, and this may have the opposite effect of increasing theburden of the user. Thus, it is essential to devise a scheme forreducing the operations of the user.

Next, the technical problems will be examined in detail.

Since it is not possible to resolve the problem merely be individuallyresolving requirements (A) to (I) described above, the followingtechnical problems must be resolved.

Foremost, the problem regarding the integration of schemes for providinginformation will be examined.

If the presentation of information is not integrated, information willbe provided in bits and pieces independently and in parallel from therespective information sources, and the user will have to simultaneouslypay attention to information from the respective information sources toselect and use the necessary information, and will not be able to focusone's consciousness or attention to the main action.

Nevertheless, by merely consolidating all functions into a singleterminal, the user will have to select the function to be used foroutputting information upon receiving information, and the goal cannotbe achieved since numerous operations and judgments other than the mainaction will be required.

For example, in a web browser portal service, although a wide range ofpages will be linked on the Internet and various types of informationcan be extracted from a single screen, a [user] will have to repeat theoperation of clicking somewhere on the screen to display the nextscreen, clicking somewhere on such next screen to display the subsequentscreen and so on. Thus, the user will have no choice but to concentrateon the operation of extracting information, and will not be able tofocus on the main action.

The integration of information will be insufficient if all informationis merely integrated such that it can be followed from a single screen,and must be integrated so as to simultaneously satisfy requirements (A)to (I).

As a task related to operations, it is necessary to deal with scenesthat require operations and scenes that do not require operations.

There are scenes where the user will have to operate the informationprovision device, and scenes where the user will not have to operatesuch information provision device. If it is not possible to deal withboth scenes according to the condition of usage, the user will not beable to focus on the main action. Even in cases where operation isrequired, it is desirable that such operation be kept to a minimum.

For example, in a situation of continuously listening to music, anoperation will not be required if there is no change in the user's moodor environmental status. Under this kind of situation, it is desirablethat operation is not required in any way. Thus, when new informationarises, it is undesirable to interrupt the contents being reproducedwithout condition and to request the user's operation.

Meanwhile, in a situation where operation was not required at a certainpoint in time, necessary information will change if the user's mood orpurpose changes, and since this is something that only the user willknow, the state will change to a situation requiring some kind ofoperation.

It is necessary that the user is able to perform such operation inaccordance with the foregoing change of state.

It is desirable that the scheme enables the user to know whetheroperation is possible.

Next, response of the contents in relation to the operation isexplained.

This implies that required is a scheme capable of flexibly dealing withthe operation method to match the user's demand and content of theinformation to be provided in correspondence with the constantlychanging situation. Since new information is constantly being generated,it is difficult to deal with this situation with a scheme in which themovement in relation to the operation is static.

In many cases, only the provider of information will know what kind ofmovement is required in accordance with the user's operation. Further,in order to enable the user to perform the operation naturally, it iseffective to employ a presentation according to the situation, and it isdesirable to provide a scheme enabling the person producing the contentsto make such presentation.

Therefore, it is necessary to provide a scheme in which the system fordistributing the contents conveys to the information provision terminalthe movement directive in relation to the operation reflecting theproductive intention when the information provider creates the contentsto be distributed.

Next, the task relating to the provision of information is explained.

In order to “reliably provide information in an appropriate amount asrequired by a user at an appropriate timing and in appropriate order andenable the effective use thereof”, there are the following tasksrelating to the scheme for providing information.

These tasks must be resolved in a form of satisfying requirements (A) to(I).

Foremost, there is the task relating to the selection of information.The selection of information, when required, must be enabled withminimal operation. This task relates closely to the task relating to theoperation.

Next, there is the task relating to the amount of [information] to beprovided. Information to be provided must be provided in an appropriateamount within a scope as required by the user. If information isdistributed in excess of the amount required by the user, unwantedtraffic will occur in the network, and the memory area of the terminalwill not be effectively utilized.

And, there is the task relating to the timing of providing information.It is necessary to provide information when it is utilizable by theuser. If [information] is provided when the user is not able to use suchinformation, it may interrupt the user's main action or the user mayforget the provided information.

Further, there is the task relating to the order of providinginformation. It is necessary that notifications be provided to the userin appropriate order.

Moreover, there is the task relating to notification. It is necessarythat a notification be made at an appropriate timing with an appropriatemeans. It is desirable to integrate the information to be notified asmuch as possible.

In addition, there is the task regarding the position of the informationprovider.

Since there is a plurality of information providers for many users, itis necessary to be able to handle information provided from a pluralityof information providers.

In order to realize the above, it is necessary to integrate information.With a system of individually providing information provided from aplurality of information providers, information will be provided in bitsand pieces independently and in parallel from the respective informationsources, and the user will have to simultaneously pay attention toinformation from the respective information sources to select and usethe necessary information, and will not be able to focus one'sconsciousness or attention to the main action.

Accordingly, even in cases where information is provided from aplurality of information providers, it is necessary that information beprovided according to the user's needs from an integrated scheme. Sinceeach information provider has a goal of providing information, it isdesirable to achieve the goal of the information provider, in additionto the goal of the user.

Further, there is the demand of information providers. Informationproviders are engaged in a business of offering services of providinginformation and receiving consideration therefor. A contents producercreates contents by using information provided by the informationprovider. In order for the information provider to achieve its goal, itis desirable that the overall contents distribution system and terminalsatisfy the following requirements as an overall system:

-   (i) To provide [information] to users desiring the provision of    information;-   (ii) To provide [information] when the user needs such information;-   (iii) To provide information with an effective presentation; and-   (iv) To provide information while preventing the unauthorized use    thereof.

Requirements (i) and (ii) can be achieved by satisfying requirements (A)to (I). Requirement (iii) can be achieved by providing a means enablingthe information provider to manage the contents inside the terminal.Requirement (iv) can be achieved by employing a constitution capable ofpreventing the unauthorized access to the contents data stored in theinformation provision terminal device.

Further, there is the task relating to the fusion of broadcasting andcommunication. In the existing individual service provision methods,there are the following respective tasks.

With a broadcasting-type service, it is not possible to provide adifferent service for each individual user or the state of use.

With a communication-type service, since individual services areintegrated in an uncoordinated fashion, the user's operation will becomecomplicated.

It is necessary to integrate a cumulative-type service and operationalfeeling.

Further still, there is the task in a functional service. In afunctional service such as tools and business applications provided withpersonal computers and PDAs, since the user will have to make numerousoperations, it is difficult for a user engaged in another activity tosimultaneously use such functional service.

In addition, if there is a separate terminal device for providing suchfunctional service and the device requests the user to perform anoperation, since the user's attention will be directed to such device,there will be a significant influence on the main action.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a function where the functionalservice will not trouble the user.

The present invention was devised based on the result of the foregoinganalysis.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to reliably provide information inan appropriate amount as required by a user at an appropriate timing andin appropriate order and enable the effective use thereof to such userwho is under a situation where it is difficult to pay attention to aplurality of information sources at the same time as a result ofengaging in a main action other than obtaining information.

In other words, an object of the present invention is to enable thecontinuous output of necessary information at an appropriate timing andin appropriate order with minimal operation.

Another object of the present invention is to enable the continuousreception of necessary information at an appropriate timing and inappropriate order with minimal operation.

The information output device according to the present inventioncomprises: an aggregate output control means for controlling the outputof the aggregate based on an event response control program associatedwith the aggregate, which contains the information being output, of theevent response control programs having described therein a command foran event associated with each of the aggregates, and in correspondencewith the event; and an information output control means for controllingthe output of the information contained in the aggregate based onordinal data associated with the aggregate, the output of which has beeninstructed by the aggregate output control means, of the ordinal datahaving described therein the output order of the information associatedwith each of the aggregates.

In the information output device of the present invention, an eventresponse control program associated with an aggregate containinginformation being output is read, output of the aggregate is controlledbased on the read event response control program and in correspondencewith the event, and output of the information containing the aggregateis controlled based on the ordinal data associated with the aggregatethe output of which has been instructed.

When the aggregate to which the information being output belongs isreplaced, the event response control program to be read is alsoreplaced, and, even if the same event is input, the content to becontrolled will change. And, according to the output order ofinformation described in the ordinal data associated with the aggregatethe output of which has been instructed, information contained in theaggregate the output of which has been instructed will be output.

As a result, by appropriately describing the event response controlprogram and ordinal data, continuous output of required information atan appropriate timing and in appropriate order with minimal operationwill be enabled.

This aggregate output control means or contents output control means maybe constituted with dedicated hardware, or realized with a computerloaded with a control program.

Information, in a broad sense, includes copyrighted works, control data,or data significant to the user. Information in particular includescopyrighted works composed of sounds or images. Information significantto the user in particular includes characters, numerical values, figuresand other information.

Information also includes so-called contents.

When prescribing from a different perspective, information includesreproduced data contents, coded data contents or functional contents.Reproduced data contents or coded data contents include, for example,MPEG-2 format contents or MP3 format contents. Functional contents referto contents composed of information other than images or sounds, butoutput as images or sounds. Functional contents include data forcontrolling equipment.

An aggregate is formed of 0 or 1 or a plurality of types of informationhaving some kind of association. For instance, an aggregate may beformed to be an aggregate composed of contents stored in a folder ordirectory, or an aggregate may be formed to be an aggregate formed fromfiles or subordinate aggregates stored in a folder or directory.Association for determining the aggregate may be described for each typeof information.

A hierarchical structure as used herein will suffice so as long as therelationship of the connection between an aggregate unit, and theaggregate unit contained therein is evident at minimum. A hierarchicalstructure includes a tree structure. For example, when the aggregate isformed from an aggregate of information stored in a folder, thehierarchical structure will mean the structure constituted with theconnection of folders.

A second unit contained in a first unit is referred to as a descendantof the first unit. A descendant one layer away is referred to as achild. A second containing a first unit is referred to as an ancestor ofthe first unit. An ancestor one layer away is referred to as a parent.

An event refers to (information representing) a change of state, and,for example, refers to an external or internal change of state. An eventincludes an event generated with the user's operation, an eventgenerated as a result of the sensor detecting something from the outsideenvironment, an event generated from the year, month, date or time, anevent sent via a network, an event generated from the reproduction ofinformation, and an event generated from the change in the communicationstatus. The event generated with the user's operation includes acommand.

An event response control program will suffice so as long as it hasdescribed therein information for identifying the event and a commandfor specifying the processing contents associated with the event atminimum. A command, for instance, is described with the processingtarget and processing content.

To be associated with an aggregate means that an event response controlprogram can be specified with the aggregate. Being associated with anaggregate includes associating an empty event response control programwith the aggregate. For example, when the aggregate is formed from anaggregate of information stored in a folder, as a result of the eventresponse control program being stored in the folder, the event responsecontrol program will be associated with the aggregate of informationstored in the folder.

To control the output of an aggregate means to designate the output ofinformation belonging to the aggregate at minimum. In such a case, it isnot necessary to specify the information itself.

In a preferred embodiment, the aggregate output control means controlsthe output of the aggregate based on the event response control programassociated with the aggregate containing the information being output,and the event response control program associated with the aggregate ofthe ancestor of the aggregate containing the information being output,and in correspondence with the event. As a result of employing theforegoing constitution, output of the appropriate aggregate can beinstructed with an event response control program having lesser commandsdescribed therein.

In an embodiment of the present invention, provided is a reproductionmeans for reproducing the information to be output based on the controlof the information output control means and in correspondence with thetype of information.

Type of information, in a broad sense, means the distinction ofinformation based on the form of outputting information, form ofrecognizing information or the format of encoding information, and, forinstance, may be a type specified with sounds or images recognized withsenses, a type specified with characters or music which is recognizedlogically or sensuously, a type specified with the MPEG format or codedformat, and so on. Type of information, for example, is identified withthe attribute of information, or the name of the file (e.g., so-calledextension) storing the information.

For example, the reproduction means will reproduce information incorrespondence with the type of information, which is text data, forMPEG-2, MP3 or voice synthesis.

The information output device may also be provided with an eventgeneration means for acquiring the outside status and generating theevent. As a result of employing the foregoing constitution, informationto be output can be switched in accordance with the change inenvironment without having to request the user's operation. Therefore,the user will be provided with appropriate information corresponding tothe change in environment.

The event generation means may generate an event from a status acquiredwith a microphone, acceleration sensor, sound pressure sensor, GPS,failure diagnosis sensor or CCD camera.

In a further preferred embodiment, a memory control means forcontrolling the memory of the information, event response controlprogram, and ordinal data may also be provided. As a result, it will bepossible to store the information, event response control program, andordinal data.

The information output device may also be provided with a communicationcontrol means for controlling the transmission of the request of theaggregate, the reception of which has been instructed by the aggregateoutput control means, to the information provision device for providingthe information, and controlling the reception of the informationbelonging to the requested aggregate as well as the event responsecontrol program and the ordinal data associated with the requestedaggregate provided from the information provision device.

In such a case, since the communication control means will control thereception of information based on the designation of the aggregateoutput control means, for instance, it will be possible to receiveinformation such that the reception of information will be completedonly regarding the information to be output when outputting information.

The aggregate output control means may also rewrite the ordinal data. Asa result, even if it is the same information, the order of outputtinginformation can be changed.

The information output method according to the present inventioncomprises: an aggregate output control step for controlling the outputof the aggregate based on an event response control program associatedwith the aggregate, which contains the information being output, of theevent response control programs having described therein a command foran event associated with each of the aggregates, and in correspondencewith the event; and an information output control step for controllingthe output of the information contained in the aggregate based onordinal data associated with the aggregate, the output of which has beeninstructed at the aggregate output control step, of the ordinal datahaving described therein the output order of the information associatedwith each of the aggregates.

The program of the first recording medium of the present invention makesa computer execute processing comprising: an aggregate output controlstep for controlling the output of the aggregate based on an eventresponse control program associated with the aggregate, which containsthe information being output, of the event response control programshaving described therein a command for an event associated with each ofthe aggregates, and in correspondence with the event; and an informationoutput control step for controlling the output of the informationcontained in the aggregate based on ordinal data associated with theaggregate, the output of which has been instructed at the aggregateoutput control step, of the ordinal data having described therein theoutput order of the information associated with each of the aggregates.

The first program of the present invention makes a computer executeprocessing comprising: an aggregate output control step for controllingthe output of the aggregate based on an event response control programassociated with the aggregate, which contains the information beingoutput, of the event response control programs having described thereina command for an event associated with each of the aggregates, and incorrespondence with the event; and an information output control stepfor controlling the output of the information contained in the aggregatebased on ordinal data associated with the aggregate, the output of whichhas been instructed at the aggregate output control step, of the ordinaldata having described therein the output order of the informationassociated with each of the aggregates.

In the information output method, first recording medium and firstprogram of the present invention, the output of the aggregate iscontrolled based on an event response control program associated withthe aggregate, which contains the information being output, of the eventresponse control programs having described therein a command for anevent associated with each of the aggregates, and in correspondence withthe event; and the output of the information contained in the aggregateis controlled based on ordinal data associated with the aggregate, theoutput of which has been instructed at the aggregate output controlstep, of the ordinal data having described therein the output order ofthe information associated with each of the aggregates.

The information reception device according to the present inventioncomprises: an aggregate reception control means for controlling thereception of the aggregate based on an event response control programassociated with the aggregate, which contains the information beingoutput, of the event response control programs having described thereina command for an event associated with each of the aggregates, and incorrespondence with the event; and a communication control means forcontrolling the transmission of the request of the aggregate, thereception of which has been instructed by the aggregate receptioncontrol means, to the information provision device for providing theinformation, and controlling the reception of the information belongingto the requested aggregate and the event response control programassociated with the requested aggregate provided from the informationprovision device.

In the information reception device of the present invention, thereception of the aggregate is controlled based on an event responsecontrol program associated with the aggregate, which contains theinformation being output, of the event response control programs havingdescribed therein a command for an event associated with each of theaggregates, and in correspondence with the event; and the transmissionof the request of the aggregate, the reception of which has beeninstructed by the aggregate reception control means, to the informationprovision device for providing the information is controlled, and thereception of the information belonging to the requested aggregate andthe event response control program associated with the requestedaggregate provided from the information provision device is controlled.

When the aggregate to which the information being output belongs isreplaced, the event response control program to be read is alsoreplaced, and, even if the same event is input, the content to becontrolled will change. In other words, reception of the aggregate towhich the information being output belongs and the aggregate determinedwith an event is designated, and the information belonging to theaggregate in which the reception thereof has been instructed and theevent response control program associated with such aggregate thereception of which has been instructed are received. As a result, byappropriately describing the event response control program, necessaryinformation can be continuously received at an appropriate timing and inappropriate order with minimal operation.

This aggregate reception control means or communication control meansmay be constituted with dedicated hardware, or realized with a computerloaded with a program.

The information reception device can receive information from theinformation provision device via a wired or wireless transmission orbroadcasting line. For example, the information reception device canreceive information from the information provision device via a wired orwireless network.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the aggregatereception control means controls the reception of the aggregate based onthe event response control program associated with the aggregatecontaining the information being output, and the event response controlprogram associated with the aggregate of the ancestor of the aggregatecontaining the information being output, and in correspondence with theevent. As a result of employing the foregoing constitution, thereception of a more appropriate aggregate can be instructed with anevent response control program having lesser commands described therein.

In a further preferred embodiment, a memory control means forcontrolling the memory of the received information and the eventresponse control program is also provided. As a result, it is possibleto store the received information and the event response controlprogram.

The information reception method according to the present inventioncomprises: an aggregate reception control step for controlling thereception of the aggregate based on an event response control programassociated with the aggregate, which contains the information beingoutput, of the event response control programs having described thereina command for an event associated with each of the aggregates, and incorrespondence with the event; and a communication control step forcontrolling the transmission of the request of the aggregate, thereception of which has been instructed at the aggregate receptioncontrol step, to the information provision device for providing theinformation, and controlling the reception of the information belongingto the requested aggregate and the event response control programassociated with the requested aggregate provided from the informationprovision device.

The program of the second recording medium according to the presentinvention makes a computer execute processing comprising: an aggregatereception control step for controlling the reception of the aggregatebased on an event response control program associated with theaggregate, which contains the information being output, of the eventresponse control programs having described therein a command for anevent associated with each of the aggregates, and in correspondence withthe event; and a communication control step for controlling thetransmission of the request of the aggregate, the reception of which hasbeen instructed at the aggregate reception control step, to theinformation provision device for providing the information, andcontrolling the reception of the information belonging to the requestedaggregate and the event response control program associated with therequested aggregate provided from the information provision device.

The second program according to the present invention makes a computerexecute processing comprising: an aggregate reception control step forcontrolling the reception of the aggregate based on an event responsecontrol program associated with the aggregate, which contains theinformation being output, of the event response control programs havingdescribed therein a command for an event associated with each of theaggregates, and in correspondence with the event; and a communicationcontrol step for controlling the transmission of the request of theaggregate, the reception of which has been instructed at the aggregatereception control step, to the information provision device forproviding the information, and controlling the reception of theinformation belonging to the requested aggregate and the event responsecontrol program associated with the requested aggregate provided fromthe information provision device.

In the information reception method, second recording medium and secondprogram of the present invention, the reception of the aggregate iscontrolled based on an event response control program associated withthe aggregate, which contains the information being output, of the eventresponse control programs having described therein a command for anevent associated with each of the aggregates, and in correspondence withthe event; and the transmission of the request of the aggregate, thereception of which has been instructed at the aggregate receptioncontrol step, to the information provision device for providing theinformation is controlled, and the reception of the informationbelonging to the requested aggregate and the event response controlprogram associated with the requested aggregate provided from theinformation provision device is controlled.

The information provision device according to the present inventioncomprises: a memory control means for controlling the memory of theinformation having a hierarchical structure with an aggregate of theinformation as the unit thereof, and controlling the memory of the eventresponse control program having described therein a command for an eventon the reception side associated with each of the aggregates; and atransmission control means for controlling the transmission of theinformation belonging to the requested aggregate and the event responsecontrol program associated with the requested aggregate to theinformation reception device when the aggregate is requested from theinformation reception device for receiving the information.

In the information provision device of the present invention,information having a hierarchical structure with an aggregate of theinformation as the unit thereof and the event response control programhaving described therein a command for an event on the reception sideassociated with each of the aggregates are stored; and informationbelonging to the requested aggregate and the event response controlprogram associated with the requested aggregate to the informationreception device when the aggregate is requested from the informationreception device for receiving the information are transmitted.

As a result, the information reception device will be able tocontinuously receive necessary information at an appropriate timing andin appropriate order with minimal operation.

The information provision device can transmit information to theinformation reception device via a wired or wireless transmission orbroadcasting line. For example, the information provision device cantransmit information to the information reception device via a wired orwireless network.

This memory control means or transmission control means may beconstituted with dedicated hardware, or realized with a computer loadedwith a program.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the memory controlmeans further controls the memory of ordinal data having describedtherein the output order of the information associated with each of theaggregates; and the transmission control means further controls thetransmission of the ordinal data associated with the requested aggregateto the information reception device when the aggregate is requested fromthe information reception device.

As a result of employing the foregoing constitution, the informationreception device will be able to continuously output requiredinformation at an appropriate timing and in appropriate order withminimal operation based on the ordinal data.

The information provision method according to the present inventioncomprises: a memory control step for controlling the memory of theinformation having a hierarchical structure with an aggregate of theinformation as the unit thereof, and controlling the memory of the eventresponse control program having described therein a command for an eventon the reception side associated with each of the aggregates; and atransmission control step for controlling the transmission of theinformation belonging to the requested aggregate and the event responsecontrol program associated with the requested aggregate to theinformation reception device when the aggregate is requested from theinformation reception device for receiving the information.

The program of a third recording medium according to the presentinvention makes a computer execute processing comprising: a memorycontrol step for controlling the memory of the information having ahierarchical structure with an aggregate of the information as the unitthereof, and controlling the memory of the event response controlprogram having described therein a command for an event on the receptionside associated with each of the aggregates; and a transmission controlstep for controlling the transmission of the information belonging tothe requested aggregate and the event response control programassociated with the requested aggregate to the information receptiondevice when the aggregate is requested from the information receptiondevice for receiving the information.

The third program according to the present invention makes a computerexecute processing comprising: a memory control step for controlling thememory of the information having a hierarchical structure with anaggregate of the information as the unit thereof, and controlling thememory of the event response control program having described therein acommand for an event on the reception side associated with each of theaggregates; and a transmission control step for controlling thetransmission of the information belonging to the requested aggregate andthe event response control program associated with the requestedaggregate to the information reception device when the aggregate isrequested from the information reception device for receiving theinformation.

In the information provision method, third recording medium and thirdprogram of the present invention, the memory of the information having ahierarchical structure with an aggregate of the information as the unitthereof and the memory of the event response control program havingdescribed therein a command for an event on the reception sideassociated with each of the aggregates are controlled; and thetransmission of the information belonging to the requested aggregate andthe event response control program associated with the requestedaggregate to the information reception device when the aggregate isrequested from the information reception device for receiving theinformation is controlled.

The fourth program according to the present invention is associated witha first aggregate, which is an aggregate among the aggregates; [theprogram] is read into the computer for controlling the output orreception of the information when the information belonging to the firstaggregate or the information belonging to the aggregate of thedescendant of the first aggregate is being output; and [the program]makes the computer execute the processing in relation to at least theoutput of a second aggregate, which is another aggregate among theaggregates, or the reception of the second aggregate when a prescribedevent occurs.

The computer for controlling the output or reception of informationreads the program of the present invention when the informationbelonging to the first aggregate or the information belonging to theaggregate of the descendant of the first aggregate is being output, andexecutes the processing in relation to at least the output of a secondaggregate, which is another aggregate among the aggregates, or thereception of the second aggregate when a prescribed event occurs.

As a result, it will be possible to enable the continuous output ofrequired information at an appropriate timing and in appropriate orderwith minimal operation, or enable the continuous reception of requiredinformation at an appropriate timing and in appropriate order withminimal operation.

In the information provision system according to the present invention,the information provision device comprises: a memory control means forcontrolling the memory of the information having a hierarchicalstructure with an aggregate of the information as the unit thereof, andcontrolling the memory of the event response control program havingdescribed therein a command for an event on the reception sideassociated with each of the aggregates; and a transmission control meansfor controlling the transmission of the information belonging to therequested aggregate and the event response control program associatedwith the requested aggregate to the information reception device whenthe aggregate is requested from the information reception device forreceiving the information; and the information reception devicecomprises: a aggregate reception control means for controlling thereception of the aggregate based on an event response control programassociated with the aggregate, which contains the information beingoutput, of the event response control programs having described thereina command for an event associated with each of the aggregates, and incorrespondence with the event; and a communication control means forcontrolling the transmission of the request of the aggregate, thereception of which has been instructed by the aggregate receptioncontrol means, to the information provision device for providing theinformation, and controlling the reception of the information belongingto the requested aggregate and the event response control programassociated with the requested aggregate provided from the informationprovision device.

In the information provision system of the present invention, inaddition to information being stored, the event response control programhaving described therein a command for an event on the reception sideassociated with each of the aggregates is stored; information belongingto the requested aggregate and the event response control programassociated with the requested aggregate to the information receptiondevice when the aggregate is requested from the information receptiondevice for receiving the information are transmitted; reception of theaggregate is controlled based on an event response control programassociated with the aggregate, which contains the information beingoutput, of the event response control programs having described thereina command for an event associated with each of the aggregates, and incorrespondence with the event; request of the aggregate, the receptionof which has been instructed, to the information provision device istransmitted, and information belonging to the requested aggregate andthe event response control program associated with the requestedaggregate provided from the information provision device is received.

A system represents the overall device structured from a plurality ofdevices.

The second information provision method according to the presentinvention comprises: a memory control step for controlling the memory ofthe information having a hierarchical structure with an aggregate of theinformation as the unit thereof, and controlling the memory of the eventresponse control program having described therein a command for an eventin the information reception device associated with each of theaggregates; a transmission control step for controlling the transmissionof the information belonging to the requested aggregate and the eventresponse control program associated with the requested aggregate to theinformation reception device when the aggregate is requested from theinformation reception device for receiving the information; an aggregatereception control step for controlling the reception of the aggregatebased on an event response control program associated with theaggregate, which contains the information being output, of the eventresponse control programs, and in correspondence with the event; and acommunication control step for controlling the transmission of therequest of the aggregate, the reception of which has been designated atthe aggregate reception control step, to the information provisiondevice, and controlling the reception of the information belonging tothe requested aggregate and the event response control programassociated with the requested aggregate provided from the informationprovision device.

In the second information provision method of the present invention, inaddition to storing information having a hierarchical structure with anaggregate of the information as the unit thereof, the event responsecontrol program having described therein a command for an event in theinformation reception device associated with each of the aggregates isstored; information belonging to the requested aggregate and the eventresponse control program associated with the requested aggregate to theinformation reception device when the aggregate is requested from theinformation reception device for receiving the information istransmitted; reception of the aggregate is controlled based on an eventresponse control program associated with the aggregate, which containsthe information being output, of the event response control programs,and in correspondence with the event; request of the aggregate, thereception of which has been instructed, to the information provisiondevice is transmitted, and information belonging to the requestedaggregate and the event response control program associated with therequested aggregate provided from the information provision device isreceived.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the loss of concentration of theuser;

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the loss of concentration of theuser;

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the loss of concentration of theuser;

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the loss of concentration of theuser;

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the loss of concentration of theuser;

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the loss of concentration of theuser;

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the loss of concentration of theuser;

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the loss of concentration of theuser;

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the loss of concentration of theuser;

FIG. 10 is a diagram for showing whether the conventional informationprovision systems satisfy the respective requirements;

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the problems in contentsdistribution employing broadcast receiver such as a TV set or a radiobroadcast receiver;

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the problems in contentsdistribution employing a web browser device;

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the problems in contentsdistribution employing a recordable media (e.g., CD/DVD) reproductiondevice;

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining the problems in contentsdistribution employing a music player with a built-in hard disk;

FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining the problems in contentsdistribution employing a car navigation system;

FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining the problems in contentsdistribution employing a communication information terminal device;

FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining the problems in contentsdistribution employing a web browser device and Internet;

FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of the informationprovision system pertaining to the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of the informationprovision system more specifically;

FIG. 20 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of the informationprovision system more specifically;

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an example of the appearance of an in-carinformation provision terminal device;

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an example of the internal structure of theinformation provision terminal device;

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of the internal structure of theinformation provision terminal device;

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing an example of the internal structure of theinformation provision server;

FIG. 25 is a block diagram showing an example of the functionalconstitution of the information provision terminal device;

FIG. 26 is a block diagram showing a more detailed constitution of anembodiment of the information provision system pertaining to the presentinvention;

FIG. 27 is a diagram for explaining the schematic of the operation ofthe information provision terminal device;

FIG. 28 is a block diagram showing a more detailed constitution of anembodiment of the information provision system pertaining to the presentinvention;

FIG. 29 is a block diagram showing a more detailed constitution of anembodiment of the information provision system pertaining to the presentinvention;

FIG. 30 is a block diagram for explaining a more detailed constitutionof the master control unit;

FIG. 31 is a block diagram for explaining the operation of the eventprocessing unit;

FIG. 32 is a diagram for explaining the reading of the command map data,dynamic command map data and master designation data, and the search ofcommand based on the input event;

FIG. 33 is a diagram for explaining the flow of contents;

FIG. 34 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the informationprovision terminal device upon activation;

FIG. 35 is a diagram for explaining the schematic of the operation ofthe information provision system pertaining to the present invention;

FIG. 36 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between thecontents, play list and master designation data, and the folder;

FIG. 37 is a diagram for explaining that the user will not loseconcentration in the information provision system pertaining to thepresent invention;

FIG. 38 is a diagram for explaining that the user will not loseconcentration in the information provision system pertaining to thepresent invention;

FIG. 31 is a diagram for explaining that the user will not loseconcentration in the information provision system pertaining to thepresent invention;

FIG. 40 is a diagram for explaining that the user will not loseconcentration in the information provision system pertaining to thepresent invention;

FIG. 41 is a diagram for explaining that the user will not loseconcentration in the information provision system pertaining to thepresent invention;

FIG. 42 is a diagram for explaining that the user will not loseconcentration in the information provision system pertaining to thepresent invention;

FIG. 43 is a diagram for explaining that the user will not loseconcentration in the information provision system pertaining to thepresent invention;

FIG. 44 is a diagram showing the concept of a folder;

FIG. 45 is a diagram showing the data structure for managinginformation;

FIG. 46 is a diagram showing the scheme of managing folders;

FIG. 47 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure in theinformation provision terminal device;

FIG. 48 is a diagram showing the operation of the information provisionterminal device when operated by the user 1;

FIG. 49 is a diagram for explaining the information provision server;

FIG. 50 is a diagram for explaining the basic form of operation of theinformation provision terminal device from which information iscontinuously extracted;

FIG. 51 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the informationprovision terminal device with a check command;

FIG. 52 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the informationprovision terminal device with a check command;

FIG. 53 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the informationprovision terminal device with a check command;

FIG. 54 is a diagram for explaining the basic constitution of a folder;

FIG. 55 is a diagram showing an example of a folder having ahierarchical structure;

FIG. 56 is a diagram showing and example of the master designation data;

FIG. 57 is a diagram for explaining the operation of downloading thefolder, contents, master designation data and play list from theinformation provision server to the information provision terminaldevice;

FIG. 58 is a diagram for explaining the operation of downloading thefolder, contents, master designation data and play list from theinformation provision server to the information provision terminaldevice;

FIG. 59 is a diagram for explaining the operation of downloading thefolder, contents, master designation data and play list from theinformation provision server to the information provision terminaldevice;

FIG. 60 is a diagram for explaining the operation of downloading thefolder, contents, master designation data and play list from theinformation provision server to the information provision terminaldevice;

FIG. 61 is a diagram for explaining the operation of downloading thefolder, contents, master designation data and play list from theinformation provision server to the information provision terminaldevice;

FIG. 62 is a diagram for explaining the operation of downloading thefolder, contents, master designation data and play list from theinformation provision server to the information provision terminaldevice;

FIG. 63 is a diagram for explaining the operation of downloading thefolder, contents, master designation data and play list from theinformation provision server to the information provision terminaldevice;

FIG. 64 is a flowchart for explaining the processing of activating theinformation provision terminal device;

FIG. 65 is a flowchart for explaining the processing of the informationprovision terminal device in relation to the event of “start”, which isthe user's voice;

FIG. 66 is a flowchart for explaining the processing of the informationprovision terminal device in relation to the event of “next”, which isthe user's voice;

FIG. 67 is a flowchart for explaining the processing of the informationprovision terminal device in relation to the event of “delete”, which isthe user's voice;

FIG. 68 is a flowchart for explaining the processing of the informationprovision terminal device in relation to the event of “delete”, which isthe user's voice;

FIG. 69 is a flowchart for explaining the processing of the informationprovision terminal device in relation to the event of “request”, whichis the user's voice;

FIG. 70 is a flowchart for explaining the processing of the informationprovision terminal device in relation to the event of “request”, whichis the user's voice;

FIG. 71 is a flowchart for explaining the processing of the informationprovision terminal device in relation to the event of “request”, whichis the user's voice;

FIG. 72 is a flowchart for explaining the processing of the informationprovision terminal device in relation to the event of “request”, whichis the user's voice;

FIG. 73 is a flowchart for explaining the processing the informationprovision terminal device in relation to the event from the informationprovision server;

FIG. 74 is a flowchart for explaining the activation processing;

FIG. 75 is a flowchart for explaining the contents folder reproductionprocessing;

FIG. 76 is a flowchart for explaining the event input processing;

FIG. 77 is a flowchart for explaining the previous command processing;

FIG. 78 is a flowchart for explaining the subsequent command processing;

FIG. 79 is a flowchart for explaining the return command processing;

FIG. 80 is a flowchart for explaining the processing of reproductiondesignation of contents;

FIG. 81 is a flowchart for explaining the folder enter event processing;and

FIG. 82 is a flowchart for explaining the folder exit event processing.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of the informationprovision system pertaining to the present invention.

An information provision terminal device 301 receives contents, or atype of information, from an information provision server 302 via anetwork 303, and provides such contents to a user 1. In the presentinvention, contents, for example, are handled as contents data.

The contents handled with the information provision device of thepresent invention can be classified into the following three categories:

-   1. Reproduced data contents;-   2. Coded data contents; and-   3. Functional contents.

Details of the respective contents will be described later.

The information provision server 302 provides (distributes) to theinformation provision terminal device 301 the contents to be provided tothe user 1 via the network 303.

The network 303 is a contents data transmission medium constituted of awired or wireless telecommunication circuit. The network 303 is notlimited to a transmission medium or protocol, and will suffice so aslong as it enables two-way communication, and, for instance, includesoptical fiber.

FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of the informationprovision system more specifically. When the information provisionterminal device 301 is to be mounted on a vehicle 311, a long-distancewireless network 312 is employed for the communication between theinformation provision terminal device 301 and information provisionserver 302 since it is necessary to enable communication while thevehicle 311 is running. For instance, a data communication network of aportable phone carrier may be used as the network 303.

In order to realize an information provision system which will enablethe [driver] to focus only on a specific information source whiledriving the vehicle 311, in an embodiment of the present invention,information is provided in the following manner in consideration of thedriving operation, which is the main action of the driver (user 1).

-   (1) Information is provided only with sound while the vehicle is    running;-   (2) Information is provided also using the screen when the vehicle    is parked; and-   (3) A flashing LED display is used as the notification means for    notifying the user 1 that there is information to be acquired.

Incidentally, when there is no screen, information may be provided onlywith sound. The notification means may be replaced with an audionotification. Therefore, a service employing only sound can also beprovided.

Further, for services directed to rear seats, a screen may be used atall times to provide information.

In the present embodiment, although an in-car information provisionterminal device 301 is used as an example where the user 1 is subject tonumerous constrained conditions so as to clarify the effect in relationto the object, the same effect is yielded in other situations of useeven upon excluding case examples that will only occur in an in-car use.

More specifically, for instance, as shown in FIG. 20, the network 303may be constituted by combining the wireless network 312, which is adata communication network of a portable phone carrier, and a wirelessLAN (Local Area Network) formed from a communication station 333constituting an area referred to as a hot spot.

As a result of distributing contents with small data volume via thewireless network 312 of a portable phone carrier, and transmittingcontents with large data volume via a wireless LAN hot spot,large-volume data can be distributed in a short period of time, and itis also possible to reduce communication costs.

Here, the information provision server 302 transmits ordinary contentswith small data volume to the information provision terminal device 301mounted on the vehicle 311, which is running, via the communicationstation 331 and wireless network 312. And, the information provisionserver 302 transmits large-volume contents with large data volume to theinformation provision terminal device 301 mounted on the vehicle 311,which is parked, via the broadband network 332 and communication station333.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an example of the appearance of an in-carinformation provision terminal device 301. The information provisionterminal device 301, for example, is constituted of a main body 351 anda display unit 352.

The main body 351 is provided with speakers 361-1 and 361-2, an LED(Light Emitting Diode) 362 and an output terminal 363. The main body 351is not provided with a display unit, and the output terminal 363 outputsto the external speaker not shown, which is a sound output means, thesound signal output from the information provision terminal device 301as sound.

The display unit 352 is provided with a liquid crystal display device364 and an LED 365 as the display device.

As shown in FIG. 21, since the information provision terminal device 301for providing information is integrated as one, the user 1 will be ableto receive important information, without letting it slip away, simplyby paying attention to a single information provision terminal device301. As a result, requirement (A) can be satisfied.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an example of the internal structure of theinformation provision terminal device 301. The information provisionterminal device 301 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 381, a RAM(Random Access Memory) 382, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 383, an interfaceunit 384 and a communication unit 385. The CPU 381, RAM 382, ROM 383,interface unit 384 and communication unit 385 are mutually connectedwith a bus 386.

The CPU 381 executes various types of processing according to theprogram stored in the RAM 382 or ROM 383. The RAM 382 arbitrarily storesprogram or data to be executed by the CPU 381.

An interface unit 384 is also connected to the CPU 381 via the bus 386.A signal corresponding to the operation of the user 1 is input to theinterface unit 384. The CPU 381 executes various types of processing incorrespondence with the command input from the interface unit 384. And,the CPU 381 outputs sounds and images obtained as a result of suchprocessing via the interface unit 384.

A communication unit 385 is also connected to the CPU 381 via the bus386. The communication unit 385 communicates with the informationprovision server 302 via the network 303. In the case of this example,the communication unit 385 functions as the interface with the network303 for either receiving the contents or transmitting the contentsrequest.

Moreover, a program may be acquired via the communication unit 385 andstored in the RAM 382.

A contents memory unit 388 is also connected to the bus 386 via theinformation database (DB) management unit 387. The contents memory unit388 is constituted, for instance, of a hard disk, optical disk, magneticoptical disk or semiconductor memory, and stores the contents. Theinformation database management unit 387 controls the storage ofcontents in the contents memory unit 388, or the read-out of thecontents.

In addition, when the magnetic disk 391, optical disk 392, magneticoptical disk 393 or semiconductor memory 394 is installed in the drive389 connected to the bus 386, the [drive 389] drives such medium andacquires the program or data recorded therein. The acquired program ordata is forwarded and stored in the RAM 382 or the writable ROM 383 asnecessary.

Incidentally, the information provision terminal device 301 may also beconstituted without providing the drive 389.

The user 1 operates the operational unit connected to the interface unit384 to operate the information provision terminal device 301. Theoperational unit may be built in the information provision terminaldevice 301, or may be provided externally.

It is desirable that the user, who is subject to certain restrictions,is able to easily operate the operational unit.

Under certain constrained conditions such as where a mechanicaloperation with the hand or foot is difficult, a voice command is used.Or, the operation may be made with an imaging device (optical means)such as a camera capturing the line of sight, expression or gesture.Under certain constrained conditions where it is difficult to use thevoice command, such as in a train, it is desirable to employ amechanical operational unit. A mechanical operational unit may be awidely used push button, switch, keyboard, pointing device or the like.

With an application where it is preferable to keep the operation asecret from others, it is desirable to provide an operational unit inwhich others will not know the operation.

In the embodiment of the in-car information provision terminal device301, a voice command and a wireless remote controller are used as theoperational unit. It is also possible to display a graphical interfacescreen on a display device such as a CRT display device or liquidcrystal display device, and use a pointing device on the screen toconduct the operation.

In a situation where it is undesirable to divert one's attention fromone's visual perception as with a driver driving a vehicle, it isdesirable to enable the control only with a voice command.

In an application where an event arises requiring an instantaneousoperation such in emergency situations, it is desirable to enableoperation with a simple operation such as with an emergency button. Forexample, it is desirable to install an emergency button near thedriver's seat.

In the embodiment of the information provision terminal device .301illustrated in FIG. 23, the user 1 will operate the informationprovision terminal device 301 with a voice command or remote controller.A voice command is input from a microphone, and the user's instructionsare detected by the generated voice being recognized. When the remotecontroller has an operational switch, as a result of the operationalswitch of the remote controller being pushed, the information provisionterminal device 301 will execute functions corresponding to therespective buttons. The signal of the remote controller is transmittedto the information provision terminal device 301 via wirelesstransmission such as infrared light or radio waves.

Further, as shown in FIG. 23, with the information provision terminaldevice 301 employing an outside event, in addition to the constitutiondepicted in FIG. 22, the constitution is additionally provided with anoutside event input unit 396. In FIG. 23, components that are the sameas those shown in FIG. 22 are given the same reference numerals, and theexplanation thereof is omitted.

The outside event input unit 396 acquires the event generated with anevent generator 395, and supplies this to the CPU 381. The eventgenerator 395 includes a natural person and an external device. Externaldevices included in the event generator 395 will be described later.

Moreover, the information provision terminal device 301 employing theactuator function may also take on a constitution of additionallyproviding an actuator connection unit to the constitution illustrated inFIG. 22 or FIG. 23. The operational unit to be connected to theinterface unit 384, the device for generating an outside event, or theactuator connection unit may be built in the information provisionterminal device 301.

The following events are handled in the embodiments of the presentinvention:

-   1. Human interface event;-   2. Sensor event;-   3. Calendar timer event;-   4. Network event;-   5. Player event;-   6. Contents event; and-   7. Open line event.

Operation of the user 1 is input as the human interface event via thehuman interface unit described later. Information of the sensorconnected to the sensor connection unit described later is input as thesensor event.

The calendar timer event is an event that arises based on the date andhour or time. As a result of using this event, functions to be conductedafter the lapse of a certain length of time or at a certain point intime can be designated.

The network event is an event sent via the network 303. The generationsource of an event, for example, may be the information provision server302 or the information provision terminal device 301, or a networkcamera or network sensor described later.

The player event is an event that is generated by the player(reproduction unit or reproduction device) within the informationprovision terminal device 301. This [player event] notifies the player'soperational status such as the start, pause or stop of reproduction.

The contents event is an event generated by the contents. The contentsproducer 121 is able to designate the timing of generation by employingmaster designation data. As a result of using the contents event, itwill be possible to synchronize a plurality of contents, or to notifythe user of the generation of an event.

The open line event is an event generated due to changes in thecommunication status. As a result of using the open line event, it willbe possible to change the function of the contents according to thechanges in the communication status. The open line event will enable adifferent function for the respective contents.

In other words, when communication is not possible, it will be possibleto provide a notification to such effect, enable download afterward, orswitch to the reproduction of different contents.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing an example of the internal structure of theinformation provision server 302. The information provision server 302includes a CPU 401, a RAM 402, a ROM 403 and a communication unit 404.The CPU 401, RAM 402, ROM 403 and communication unit 404 are mutuallyconnected via a bus 405.

The CPU 401 executes various types of processing according to theprogram stored in the RAM 402 or ROM 403. The RAM 402 arbitrarily storesprogram or data to be executed by the CPU 401.

A communication unit 404 is also connected to the CPU 401 via the bus405. The communication unit 404 communicates with the informationprovision terminal device 301 via the network 303. In the case of thisexample, the communication unit 404 functions as the interface with thenetwork 303 for either receiving the contents request or transmittingthe contents.

Moreover, a program may be acquired via the communication unit 404 andstored in the RAM 402.

A contents memory unit 407 is also connected to the bus 405 via aninformation database (DB) management unit 406. The contents memory unit407 is constituted, for example, of a hard disk, optical disk, magneticoptical disk, semiconductor memory or magnetic tape, and stores thecontents. The information database management unit 406 controls thestorage of contents in the contents memory unit 407, or the read-out ofthe contents.

In addition, when the magnetic disk 411, optical disk 412, magneticoptical disk 413 or semiconductor memory 414 is installed in the drive408 connected to the bus 405, the [drive 408] drives such medium andacquires the program or data recorded therein. The acquired program ordata is forwarded and stored in the RAM 402 or the writable ROM 403 asnecessary.

Incidentally, the information provision server 302 may also beconstituted without providing the drive 408.

FIG. 25 is a block diagram showing an example of the functionalconstitution of the information provision terminal device 301.

A command interpretation unit 421 acquires the signal corresponding tothe user's operation.

The command interpretation unit 421 interprets the acquired signal andgenerates an event. The command interpretation unit 421 supplies thegenerated event to a reproduction designation unit 422. The reproductiondesignation unit 422, based on the event supplied from the commandinterpretation unit 421, designates the download of an aggregate ofcontents to the information transmission unit 423, or designates theproduction of the aggregate of contents to the reproduction ordermanagement unit 425 and reproduction information management unit 426.Here, an aggregate of contents is composed, for example, of contentsstored in a folder.

When the information transmission unit 423 is instructed by thereproduction designation unit 422 to download an aggregate of contents,it transmits a request of an aggregate of prescribed contents to theinformation provision server 302 via the network 303. When theinformation provision server 302 receives the request, it supplies tothe information provision terminal device 301 the aggregate of requestedcontents via the network 303.

The information reception unit 424 receives the aggregate of contentstransmitted from the information provision server 302, and supplies theaggregate of received contents to the reproduction designation unit 422.

The reproduction designation unit 422 stores the aggregate of receivedcontents in the contents memory unit 388 via a reproduction ordermanagement unit 425.

When the reproduction order management unit 425 is instructed by thereproduction designation unit 422 to reproduce the aggregate of newcontents, it acquires information relating to the reproduction of theaggregate of contents to be newly output, and designates the informationprovision unit 427 to output the contents stored in the contents memoryunit 388 based on the acquired information relating to the reproductionof the aggregate of contents.

The reproduction information management unit 426 manages informationrelating to the aggregate of contents currently being output, and, whenit receives from the reproduction designation unit 422 a designation toreproduce an aggregate of new contents, it stores information relatingto the aggregate of contents currently being output, and managesinformation relating to the aggregate of new contents in which thereproduction thereof has been instructed.

The reproduction information management unit 426, for instance, storesand manages information relating to the reproduction of contentsrepresenting the output order of contents belonging to the aggregate andcontents currently being output.

The information provision unit 427, based on the instruction from thereproduction order management unit 425, outputs and provides thecontents stored in the contents memory unit 388 to the user 1.

When the output of contents belonging to an aggregate is completed, theinformation provision unit 427 supplies information notifying suchcompletion to the reproduction information management unit 426.

The reproduction information management unit 426 reads out informationthat it stores relating to the previously output aggregate of contentsand designates the aggregate of contents and contents to be output tothe reproduction order management unit 425.

When the output of contents belonging to an aggregate is completed, thereproduction order management unit 425, based on the designation fromthe reproduction information management unit 426, designates the outputof contents among the previously output aggregate of contents to theinformation provision unit 427.

Here, the information provision unit 427 will output the contents whichwere being output prior to the completion of the output of contents.

FIG. 26 is a block diagram showing a more detailed constitution of anembodiment of the information provision system pertaining to the presentinvention. The human interface unit 431, based on the signal or dataoutput from the information provision terminal device 301, presentsimages, sounds, vibration, light and so on to the user 1. Further, thehuman interface unit 431 is operated by the user 1, creates a signal ordata corresponding to the operation, and supplies the created signal ordata representing the operation to the information provision terminaldevice 301.

The environment information detection unit 432 acquires informationrelating to the environment of the information provision terminal device301, and generates a signal or data representing the environment fromthe acquired information. Information relating to the environmentacquired by the environment information detection unit 432 may beinformation relating to light such as images or brightness, informationrelating to sound such as voices or volume (sound pressure), informationrelating to spatial positioning such as the operational status,position, acceleration or speed of other devices or oneself, informationrelating to the climate such as temperature, humidity or wind velocity,information relating to the chemical environment such as the type oramount of chemical substance to be distributed circumferentially, and soon.

The external equipment 433, based on the signal from the informationprovision terminal device 301, engages in a prescribed mechanical,electrical or chemical operation.

The contents provision system 434, for instance, is constituted of aninformation provision server 302 and network 303, and provides to theinformation provision terminal device 301 the contents belonging to aprescribed aggregate in accordance with the request from the informationprovision terminal device 301.

The information provision terminal device 301 includes a master controlunit 451, a play list reader 452, players 453-1 to 453-n, an imageoutput unit 454, a voice output unit 455, a communication unit 456, anetwork interface 457, an initial pointer memory unit 458, a currentpointer 459, a pointer stack 460, an event processing unit 461, a voiceinput unit 462, an operation input unit 463, a calendar timer 464, asensor connection unit 465 and an actuator connection unit 466.

The master control unit 451 reads the master designation data, commandmap data or dynamic command map data, which is an example of the eventresponse control program having described therein a command for an eventassociated with the aggregate of contents and designates the output ofthe aggregate of contents to the play list reader 452 based on the readmaster designation data, command map data or dynamic command map data aswell as the event from the event processing unit 461.

Here, an aggregate of contents is formed from 0 or 1 or a plurality ofcontents having some kind of association. For instance, an aggregate maybe formed to be an aggregate composed of contents stored in a folder ordirectory. Association for determining the aggregate may be describedfor the respective contents.

To be associated with an aggregate means that an event response controlprogram can be specified with the aggregate. Being associated with anaggregate includes associating an empty event response control programwith the aggregate. For example, when the aggregate is formed from anaggregate of information stored in a folder, as a result of the eventresponse control program being stored in the folder, the event responsecontrol program will be associated with the aggregate of informationstored in the folder.

The master control unit 451 reads the master designation data, commandmap data and dynamic command map data described later, and designatesthe reception of an aggregate of contents belonging to an aggregate tothe communication unit 456 based on the read master designation data,command map data and dynamic command map data, as well as the event fromthe event processing unit 461.

The play list reader 452 designates the output of contents to theplayers 453-1 to 453-n based on the play list, which is an example ofordinal data in which the output order of contents is described therein.When the output of a prescribed aggregate of contents is instructed bythe master control unit 451, the play list reader 452 designates theoutput of contents to the players 453-1 to 453-n based on the play list,which is an example of ordinal data associated with the aggregate theoutput of which has been instructed.

For example, when the aggregate is formed from an aggregate of contentsstored in a folder, the play list, which is an example of ordinal data,will be stored in the folder, and the play list, which is an example ofordinal data, will be associated with the aggregate of contents storedin the folder.

When the output of all contents in which the order thereof is describedin the play list is finished with respect to a prescribed aggregate, theplay list reader 452 supplies to the master control unit 451 informationindicating the completion of output of the contents of such aggregate.

The players 453-1 to 453-n reproduce the contents recorded in thecontents recording unit 388 based on the control of the play list reader452, and outputs the reproduced contents to the image output unit 454and voice output unit 455. The players 453-1 to 453-n respectivelyreproduce contents of a different format.

Upon completing the reproduction of contents, the players 453-1 to 453-nsupply information indicating the reproduction of contents to the playlist reader 452.

The image output unit 454 outputs to the human interface unit 431, in aprescribed format, an image, which is an output of the contents suppliedfrom one of the players 453-1 to 453-n.

The voice output unit 455 outputs to the human interface unit 431, in aprescribed format, a sound, which is an output of the contents suppliedfrom one of the players 453-1 to 453-n.

When the reception of a prescribed aggregate of contents is instructedby the master control unit 451, the communication unit 456 transmits tothe information provision server 302, via the network interface 457 andnetwork 303, the request for an aggregate of contents in which thereception thereof has been instructed. Via the network interface 457 andnetwork 303, the communication unit 456 receives the contents belongingto the requested aggregate; the master designation data, command mapdata or dynamic command map data, which is an example of the eventresponse control program associated with the requested aggregate; or theplay list, which is an example of ordinal data associated with therequested aggregate transmitted from the information provision server302.

Further, the communication unit 456 generates an event representing thatthe reception of contents has started, or the reception of contents hasbeen completed, and supplies such generated event to the eventprocessing unit 461.

The network interface 457 is, for example, an NIC (Network InterfaceCard), and transmits or receives contents or data corresponding to theformat of the connected network. The network interface 457, forinstance, transmits or receives a packet storing contents or data via awireless medium when the network 303 is a wireless network 312.

The initial pointer memory unit 458 stores an initial pointerrepresenting the aggregate of contents to be output upon activation.

The current pointer 459 stores information representing the position ofthe contents currently being output in the play list having describedtherein the output order of the contents.

The pointer stack 460 pushes and stores pointer information which is thevalue of the current pointer 459 representing the contents output atsuch time when the master control unit 451 designates the output of theaggregate of contents and pops and reads the stored pointer informationwhen the output of the aggregate of contents is finished. In otherwords, the pointer stack 460 stores the pointer information when theoutput aggregate is changed as a log. As a result, when the output ofall contents belonging to the aggregate is finished based on the playlist, contents that were output prior to the output aggregate beingchanged will be output.

The event processing unit 461 acquires an event from the event source,and supplies the acquired event to the master control unit 451. Forexample, the event processing unit 461 acquires an event representingthat the reception of contents supplied from the communication unit 456is complete, an event which is a command corresponding to thevocalization of the user 1 supplied from the voice input unit 462, andevent corresponding to the operation of the user 1 supplied from theoperation input unit 463, an event corresponding to the year, month,day, hour or time supplied from the calendar timer 464, an eventrepresenting environmental changes supplied from the sensor connectionunit 465, and supplies such events to the master control unit 451.

The voice input unit 462 recognizes the word vocalized by the user 1based on the voice signal vocalized by the user 1 which was suppliedfrom the voice acquisition unit 473 of the human interface unit 431, andsupplies the recognized voice as an event (command); that is, itgenerates an event representing the recognized voice, and supplies thegenerated event to the event processing unit 461. A command, forexample, may be text representing the recognized word.

The operation input unit 463 generates an event representing the user'soperation based on the signal corresponding to the operation of the user1 which was supplied from the operation acquisition unit 474 of thehuman interface unit 431, and supplies the generated event to the eventprocessing unit 461.

The calendar timer 464 generates an event in relation to the set year,month, day or hour, or an event corresponding to the time (period), andsupplies the generated event to the event processing unit 461. Forexample, the calendar timer 464 generates an event representing the sethour when it becomes the hour set by the master control unit 451, andsupplies the generated event to the event processing unit 461. Forexample, the calendar timer 464 generates an event representing that thetime (period) has elapsed when the set time (period) has elapsed uponthe start of count being instructed, and supplies the generated event tothe event processing unit 461.

The sensor connection unit 465 generates an event based on the signalrepresenting the environmental information supplied from the environmentinformation detection unit 432, and supplies the generated event to theevent processing unit 461.

The actuator connection unit 466 supplies a signal designating anoperation to the external equipment 433 based on the control of themaster control unit 451.

The human interface unit 431 includes a display unit 471, a voice outputunit 472, a voice acquisition unit 473 or an operation acquisition unit474.

The display unit 471 displays images or text based on the signal or datasupplied from the image output unit 454. The display unit 471 may be aliquid crystal display device, a CRT (Cathode-Ray Tube) display device,an LED display device or an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) displaydevice capable of displaying images or text.

The voice output unit 472 outputs a voice (emits sound) based on thesignal or data supplied from the voice output unit 455. For example, thevoice output unit 472 may be a loud speaker or a buzzer.

The voice acquisition unit 473 is a microphone, for example, andacquires the voice vocalized by the user 1, and supplies the signal ordata representing the acquired voice to the voice input unit 462.

The operation acquisition unit 474 is a switch, for example, andsupplies the signal or data corresponding to the operation of the user 1to the operational input connection unit 463.

The environment information detection unit 432 includes sensors 481-1 to481-n. Sensors 481-1 to 481-n respectively acquire different types ofinformation, or acquire the same type of information.

For example, the sensor 481-1 acquires information relating to lightsuch as images or brightness, and supplies the signal or datarepresenting the acquired information relating to light to the sensorconnection unit 465. The sensor 481-2 acquires information relating tosound such as a voice or volume (sound pressure), and supplies thesignal or data representing the acquired information relating to soundto the sensor connection unit 465. The sensor 481-3 acquires informationrelating to spatial positioning such as acceleration or speed, andsupplies the signal or data representing the acquired informationrelating to spatial positioning to the sensor connection unit 465.

The external equipment 433 includes actuators 491-1 to 491-n. Theactuators 491-1 to 491-n respectively engage in different types ofoperations, or engage in the same type of operation. The actuators 491-1to 491-n may be respectively constituted from, for instance, anelectrical switch, solenoid, hydraulic switch, air valve, electricmotor, hydraulic cylinder, or air cylinder.

For example, the actuator 491-1 may be an electrical switch for lockingthe door lock of the vehicle 311 having installed therein theinformation provision terminal device 301. For example, the actuator491-2 may be a motor for opening and closing the window of the vehicle311 having installed therein the information provision terminal device301. For example, the actuator 491-2 may be a motor for operating thebutterfly valve of the air conditioner of the vehicle 311 havinginstalled therein the information provision terminal device 301. Forexample, the actuator 491-1 may be an electrical switch for controllingthe lighting of the headlamp of the vehicle 311 having installed thereinthe information provision terminal device 301.

Incidentally, the information provision system may employ a constitutionof not including the environment information detection unit 432 orexternal equipment 433. In such a case, the [information provisionsystem] may also employ a constitution without including the sensorconnection unit 465 or actuator connection unit 466.

Moreover, the human interface unit 431, environment informationdetection unit 432 or external equipment 433 may be an independentdevice, or may be built in the information provision terminal device301. In particular, the sensors 481-1 to 481-n may be partially orwholly built in the information provision terminal device 301.

Further, the communication unit 456 communicates with the informationprovision server 302 via a plurality of transmission paths.

FIG. 27 is a diagram for explaining the schematic of the operation ofthe information provision terminal device 301.

The contents memory unit 388 stores the contents in a prescribed datastructure. The contents memory unit 388 stores, for each of the folders501-1 to 501-n, reproductive data contents 511, coded data contents 512,functional contents 513, play list 514 or master designation data 515.The folders 501-1 to 501-n have the data structure described later.

When the folders 501-1 to 501-n do not have to be differentiatedseparately, they will be simply referred to as a folder 501 below.

In the following explanation, the reproductive data contents 511 may bereferred to as the contents 511. Operation and processing of thecontents 511 are explained below.

Unless specified in particular, the operation or processing of thecontents 511 may be replaced with the operation or processing of thecoded data contents 512 or functional contents 513.

The master control unit 451, based on the event (information) suppliedfrom the event processing unit 461, reads and writes the content of thecontents memory unit 388, pointer stack 460, current pointer 459, andinitial pointer memory unit 458.

The event processing unit 461 acquires the player event supplied fromthe players 453-1 to 453-n; the human interface event supplied from thehuman interface unit 431 via the voice input unit 462 or operation inputunit 463; the sensor event supplied from the sensor connection unit 465;the calendar event supplied from the calendar timer 464; or the networkevent supplied from the network camera 503, network sensor 504, or otherevent sources 505 such as an information processing device or server viathe network 303; and supplies the event information representing thecontent of the event to the master control unit 451.

When the players 453-1 to 453-n do not have to be differentiatedseparately, they will be simply referred to as a player 453 below.

The play list reader 452, based on the designation of the master controlunit 451, reads the play list in the folder storing the contentscurrently being reproduced and stored in the contents memory unit 388,selects one among the players 453-1 to 453-n in accordance with the typeof contents and designates the reproduction of such contents.

The players 453-1 to 453-n reproduce the designated contents based onthe designation of the play list reader 452. When the informationprovision terminal device 301 starts its operation, the master controlunit 451 reads information for designating the contents to be initiallyreproduced from the initial pointer memory unit 458, reads the masterdesignation data, writes in the current point 459 according to thecontent described therein, and designates the start of reproduction tothe play list reader 452.

The pointer stack 460, based on the control of the master control unit451, pushes (stores) the contents of the current pointer 459 designatingone of the folders 501-1 to 501-n as pointers 502-1 to 502-n, or popsthe pointers 502-1 to 502-n (i.e., reads the pointers 502-1 to 502-n andstores them in the current pointer 459) when the folders 501-1 to 501-nstoring the contents to be output are switched.

FIG. 28 is a block diagram showing a more detailed constitution of anembodiment of the information provision system pertaining to the presentinvention. Components that are the same as those shown in FIG. 26 aregiven the same reference numerals, and the explanation thereof isomitted.

In the information provision system depicted in FIG. 28, a hard disk 601as the contents memory unit 388 is provided. The wireless packetcommunication unit 602 is an example of the network interface 457. Thewireless packet communication unit 602 communicates with the informationprovision server 302 via the wireless packet network 607, which is anexample of the network 303.

The MPEG2 (Moving Pictures Experts Group) player 603 and MPEG4 player604 respectively reproduce contents composed of images or sounds in theMPEG2 format or MPEG4 format. The MP3 (MPEG 1 Audio Layer 3) player 605reproduces audio contents in the MP3 format.

The voice synthesizing unit 606 synthesizes voices based on contents forperforming voice synthesis; for instance, text-to-speech formatcontents.

The liquid crystal display unit 608 is an example of the display unit471, and is composed of a liquid crystal display device. The speaker 609is an example of the voice output unit 472, and is composed from thelikes of a dynamic speaker. The microphone 610 is an example of thevoice acquisition unit 473, and is composed from a dynamic microphone ora condenser microphone.

When only an audio service is provided in the information provisionsystem depicted in FIG. 28 and it is not necessary to provide a display,the constitution does not have to include a liquid crystal display unit608 and image output unit 454.

The remote controller 611 is an example of the operation acquisitionunit 474, and supplies to the operation input unit 463 a signalrepresenting the operational content via infrared light of radio waves.

The acceleration sensor 612, sound pressure sensor 613, GPS (GlobalPositioning System) antenna, failure diagnosis sensor 615 and CCD(Charge Coupled Device) camera 616 are examples of the sensors 481-1 to481-n, and are respectively sensors for acquiring the acceleration,sound pressure, positional information, operational status of thedevice, and images.

The notification LED 617 and warning buzzer 618 are examples of theactuators 491-1 to 491-n, and respectively convey information to theuser 1 by illuminating, extinguishing or flashing light, and conveyinformation to the user 1 by sounds.

FIG. 29 is a block diagram showing a more detailed constitution of anembodiment of the information provision system pertaining to the presentinvention. Components that are the same as those shown in FIG. 28 aregiven the same reference numerals, and the explanation thereof isomitted.

In the information provision system depicted in FIG. 29, the actuatorconnection unit 466 is not provided to the information provisionterminal device 301, and the information provision terminal device 301does not control the external equipment 433. The environment informationdetection unit 432 is only provided with a GPS antenna 614.

The information provision terminal device 301 illustrated in FIG. 29 hasa simpler constitution having, for example, a human interface unit 431built therein, and is suitable for being carried around by the user 1.

FIG. 30 is a block diagram for explaining a more detailed constitutionof the master control unit 451.

The master control unit 451 is provided with a master core unit 701, acurrent folder memory unit 702, a folder stack 703, a dynamic commandstack 704 and a master designation data stack 705.

The master core unit 701 controls the contents memory unit 388, playlist reader 452 and communication unit 456 based on the event suppliedfrom the event processing unit 461, master designation data 515, commandmap data described later and dynamic command map data, as well asinformation stored in the initial pointer memory unit 458, currentpointer 459, current folder memory unit 702, folder stack 703, dynamiccommand stack 704 and master designation data stack 705.

The current folder memory unit 702 stores data for specifying the folder501 storing the contents that are currently being output.

The folder stack 703 sequentially stores data for specifying the folder501 storing the contents that were output in the past.

The dynamic command stack 704 sequentially stores data for specifyingthe folder 501 storing the contents that were output in the past andstoring the dynamic command map data.

The master designation data stack 705 sequentially stores data forspecifying the folder 501 storing the contents that were output in thepast and storing the master designation data 515.

FIG. 31 is a block diagram for explaining the operation of the eventprocessing unit 461.

The event processing unit 461, based on the setting designation from themaster control unit 451, designates the setting of a threshold or thelike for determining the output of event information representing thecontent of information to the voice input unit 462, operation input unit463, calendar timer 464, sensor connection unit 465 and actuatorconnection unit 466.

The event processing unit 461 acquires event information representingthe content of the event output by the voice input unit 462, operationinput unit 463, calendar timer 464, sensor connection unit 465 andactuator connection unit 466 based on the setting, and supplies theacquired event information to the master control unit 451.

FIG. 32 is a diagram for explaining the reading of the command map data,dynamic command map data and master designation data, and the search ofcommand based on the input event.

The command map memory unit 801 managed by the master core unit 701 andwhich is a prescribed area of the RAM 382 stores a command map data 811having stored therein an order against the command. The command map data811 is stored in the command map memory unit 801 while the informationprovision terminal device 301 is in operation.

The dynamic command stack 704 stores the dynamic command map data 812-1to 812-n having described therein orders against the command. Thedynamic command map data 812-1 to 812-n are stored in the dynamiccommand stack 704 or deleted from the dynamic command stack 704 when thecontents 511 being output are changed.

When the dynamic command map data 812-1 to 812-n do not have to bedifferentiated separately, they will be simply referred to as dynamiccommand map data 812 below.

For instance, when the folder 501 storing the contents 511 has a treestructure, which is an example of a hierarchical structure, the folder501 storing the contents 511 being output and the dynamic command mapdata 812 stored in the folder 501 of the ancestor of the folder 501storing the contents 511 being output are stored in the dynamic commandstack 704, and the dynamic command map data 812 stored in the folder 501that is not an ancestor of the folder 501 storing the contents 511 beingoutput are deleted from the dynamic command stack 704.

The master designation data stack 705 stores the master designation data515-1 to 515-n storing orders against the command. The masterdesignation data 515-1 to 515-n is stored in the master designation datastack 705 or deleted from the master designation data stack 705 when thecontents 511 being output are changed.

For instance, when the folder 501 storing the contents 511 has a treestructure, which is an example of a hierarchical structure, the folder501 storing the contents 511 being output and the master designationdata 515 stored in the folder 501 of the ancestor of the folder 501storing the contents 511 being output are stored in the masterdesignation data stack 705, and the master designation data 515 storedin the folder 501 that is not an ancestor of the folder 501 storing thecontents 511 being output are deleted from the master designation datastack 705.

For example, the voice acquisition unit 473 supplies the acquired signalrepresenting the voice of the user 1 to the voice input unit 462. Thevoice input unit 462 generates an event based on the setting designatedby the event processing unit 461, and supplies this to the eventprocessing unit 461. For instance, an event is a word sequence of therecognition result recognizing the voice of the user 1. For example,voice input unit 462 supplies “traffic information, Tokyo, Minato Ward”,which is the word sequence of the recognition result represented in textas the event, to the event processing unit 461.

The event processing unit 461 supplies the supplied event to the mastercontrol unit 451 as the operational event information. For example, theevent processing unit 461 supplies the event of “traffic information,Tokyo, Minato Ward” to the master control unit 451 as the operationalevent information.

The master control unit 451, for instance, searches for the command forthe event in a prescribed order from the command map data 811, dynamiccommand data 812-1 to 812-n and master designation data 515-1 to 515-n.

For example, the master control unit 451 searches for the command forthe event in order from the latest setting regarding the masterdesignation data 515-1 to 515-n, and, when the command for the eventcould not be found, searches for the command for the event in order fromthe latest setting regarding the dynamic command data 812-1 to 812-n.The master control unit 451 searches for the command for the event fromthe command map data 811 when it could not find the command for theevent from the master designation data 515-1 to 515-n and dynamiccommand data 812-1 to 812-n.

The master control unit 451 controls the contents memory unit 388, playlist reader 452, communication unit 456 and event processing unit 461based on the found command.

Incidentally, the order in which the master control unit 451 searchesfor the command for the event may be set arbitrarily.

FIG. 33 is a diagram for explaining the flow of contents.

The communication unit 456 stores the contents 511, master designationdata 515, dynamic command map 812 and play list 514 supplied from theinformation provision server 302 via the network interface 457 andnetwork 303 in the contents memory unit 388.

The master control unit 451 reads the master designation data 515 anddynamic command map 812 stored in the contents memory unit 388, andcontrols the reception of contents of the communication unit 456 and thedesignation regarding the reproduction of contents of the play listreader 452 based on the read master designation data 515 and dynamiccommand map 812.

The play list reader 452 designates the output of contents 511 stored inthe folder 501 storing the play list 514 to the players 453-1 to 453-nbased on the play list 514 stored in the contents memory unit 388.

One of the players 453-1 to 453-n reads the contents 511 from thecontents memory unit 388 and outputs the read contents 511 based on thedesignation from the play list reader 452.

FIG. 34 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the informationprovision terminal device 301 upon activation.

The master control unit 451 foremost reads the initial pointer stored inthe initial pointer memory unit 458, then reads the master designationdata 515 and dynamic command map 812 stored in the folder 501 designatedwith the initial pointer based on the read initial pointer, anddesignates the output of the aggregate of contents 511 storing thefolder 501 designated with the initial pointer to the play list reader452.

The play list reader 452 reads the play list 514 stored in the folder501 designated with the initial pointer as indicated from the mastercontrol unit 451, and designates the output of contents 511 described inthe read play list 514 to the players 453-1 to 453-n based on the orderof contents 511 described in the read play list 514.

One of the players 453-1 to 453-n to output the contents 511 stored inthe folder 501 designated with the initial pointer supplies the playerevent representing the reproduction start of contents to the eventprocessing unit 461 when the reproduction of contents is started.

The event processing unit 461 notifies the event to the master controlunit 451.

The master control unit 451 acquires the command corresponding to theevent notified from the event processing unit 461, and designates thereproduction of the subsequent aggregate (folder 501) to the play listreader 452 based on the acquired command.

Next, characteristics of the operation of the contents provision devicepertaining to the present invention are explained.

In the present invention, as a result or providing a scheme fordistributing the contents 511 such that the contents 511 are distributedfrom the information provision server 302 in which information isintegrated uniformly and organized in a layered folder, download fordistributing the contents 511 is conducted in stages by the informationprovision terminal device 301 independently from the operation of theuser 1, the contents producer 121 is able to create the contents 511based on one's productive idea so that such contents 511 will coincidewith a part of the contents 511 before the user 1 requires information,and the information provision terminal device 301 automaticallycontrolling the reproduction of contents 511 according to an eventinside the information provision terminal device 301 and outside theinformation provision terminal device 301, the object of the [presentinvention] can be achieved.

In the present invention, since the contents service will be unified andthe operation of the information provision terminal device 301 will alsobe integrated as a result thereof, the [service] can also be used by auser 1 who is subject to countless constrained conditions such as whiledriving a vehicle 311.

According to the present invention, since the overall system can berealized to have an extremely simple constitution, this will alsocontribute significantly to the cost reduction of the contentsdistribution service.

The technical characteristics realized in the present invention differfrom the concept of programming using a programming language on an OS(Operating System).

One object of the present invention is to “reliably provide informationin an appropriate amount as required by a user at an appropriate timingand in appropriate order and enable the effective use thereof to suchuser who is under a situation where it is difficult to pay attention toa plurality of information sources at the same time as a result ofengaging in a main action other than obtaining information”, and the[present invention] realizes a device or method relating to the datastructure or terminal device or network for realizing a servicesatisfying requirements (A) to (I) when providing information, and doesnot aim to provide a versatile OS or programming function.

In order to achieve the foregoing object, it is necessary to provide ascheme capable of controlling the operation of the contents service byconveying the status of the user 1 and environmental status and changeof status of the information source for conveying information via anetwork.

In order to achieve the object of the present invention, it is necessaryto use the following events to enable the control of the distributionand reproduction of the contents 511:

-   (1) Event from the user 1;-   (2) Event conveyed via a network;-   (3) Change of status event which the contents producer 121 wishes to    use;-   (4) Event resulting from the passage of time, hour or time schedule;-   (5) Event such as reproduction end generated by the player 453;-   (6) Event generated by the reproduction of the contents 511; and-   (7) Event generated by the environment.

In order to control the distribution and reproduction of the contentswith an event, it is necessary to provide a means for detecting such anevent and using the event in the contents.

With the response corresponding to the event, since the productive ideathereof will be different for each contents producer 121, even if thesame event is generated, a response (requested processing or operation)will be different for the respective contents 511.

Therefore, this cannot be dealt with by merely programming theinformation provision terminal device 301 in advance. It is necessaryfor the contents producer 121 to designate the kind of response to bemade to the event according to one's productive idea.

It would be insufficient to merely enable the download of an additionalprogram having programmed thereon a new function, and it is necessary toprovide a scheme where automatic renewal is constantly conducted withoutthe user 1 having to personally perform a download operation or renewaloperation of the terminal.

The present invention realizes an information provision system fusingbroadcasting and communication in an extremely simple constitution thatsatisfies requirements (A) to (I) with the following constitution.

Provided is a scheme for distributing the contents 511 such that thecontents 511 are distributed from the information provision server 302in which information is integrated uniformly and organized in a layeredfolder, download for distributing the contents 511 is conducted instages by the information provision terminal device 301 independentlyfrom the operation of the user 1, the contents producer 121 is able tocreate the contents 511 based on one's productive idea so that suchcontents 511 will coincide with a part of the contents 511 before theuser 1 requires information, and the information provision terminaldevice 301 automatically controlling the reproduction of contents 511according to an event inside the information provision terminal device301 and outside the information provision terminal device 301.

As a result of the above, the present invention yields numerousadvantages with a simple constitution.

FIG. 35 is a diagram for explaining the schematic of the operation ofthe information provision system pertaining to the present invention.

The information provision server 302 stores information as the contentsrespectively supplied from the information sources 901-1 to 901-4.

The information provision server 302 transmits information to theinformation provision terminal device 301. The information provisionserver 302 supplies the network event supplied from the event source 505to the information provision terminal device 301.

The information provision terminal device 301 supplies the informationsupplied from the information provision server 302 to the user 1laconically, methodically and continuously based on a command which isthe sensor event supplied from the environment information detectionunit 432 or the event supplied from the user. As a result, the user willbe able to focus one's attention on another activity while using theinformation provision terminal device 301. The command which is an eventsupplied from the user may be a vocalization of a word, and the user 1may make in a simple command operation to the information provisionterminal device 301.

FIG. 36 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between thecontents 511, play list 514 and master designation data 515, and thefolder 501. In the present invention, the contents 511 are stored in thefolder 501. Stored in the folder 501 are the contents 511, the play list514 relating to the reproduction order of the contents and the masterdesignation data 515 for designating the operation of the contents 511.

Incidentally, the dynamic command map data 812 is stored in the folder501 as a type of the contents 511. The dynamic command map data 812 hasa specific file name, or a specific property.

The contents 511 are the contents data such as sound, image or text, orthe folder 501. As a result of a folder 501 being store in the folder501, a hierarchical structure is realized.

Described in the play list 514 is the order of the contents 511 to beoutput, in the order of contents 3 as the contents 511-3; contents 1 asthe contents 511-1; contents 4 as the contents 511-4; contents 6 as thecontents 511-6; and contents 5 as the contents 511-5.

Described in the master designation data 515 are the operation targetand the operation thereof against the event. For example, described inthe master designation data 515 are operation target 1 and operation 1thereof against event 1; operation target 2 and operation 2 thereofagainst event 2; operation target 3 and operation 3 thereof againstevent 3; operation target 4 and operation 4 thereof against event 4; andoperation target 5 and operation 5 thereof against event 5.

In the present invention, the various advantages described below can beyielded by the information provision system employing the followingcharacteristic constitution:

-   1. In the information provision server 302, all contents 511 are    provided by being organized in layers in the folder 501, which is a    sub-folder of one folder 501;-   2. Distribution of the contents 511 is conducted in stages according    to the operation of the user 1 made with respect to the completely    distributed contents 511;-   3. The preceding contents 511 induces the distribution of the    subsequent contents 511, and service is provided automatically and    continuously;-   4. Even if the contents 511 stored in each information provision    terminal device 301 are the same in the initial state, the    constitution will differ according to the user 1 depending on the    log of the information provision terminal device 301 of the user 1;-   5. The distribution of the contents 511 can be conducted merely by    the information provision terminal device 301 downloading and    copying all folders of folder 501 and below designated by the    information provision server 302;-   6. The information provision terminal device 301, the layer of the    contents 511 is the same layer structure as the information    provision server 302, and can be managed by the contents producer    121;-   7. The contents producer 121 is able to designate the behavior in    the information provision terminal device 301 of the contents 511    after distribution for each folder 501 by employing the master    designation data 515;-   8. No person other than the contents producer 121 may modify the    contents 511;-   9. Based on the plan of the contents producer 121, operation of the    user 1, events detected inside and outside the information provision    terminal device 301, and the reproduction of contents 511 based on a    network event can be automatically controlled;-   10. As a result of the user 1 merely performing an operation for    using the contents 511, the contents 511 are automatically    distributed, and stored in the information provision terminal device    301; and-   11. In the information provision terminal device 301, the user 1 is    able to handle cumulative-type, broadcasting-type,    communication-type and functional-type contents 511 stored in the    folder 501 with an integrated operation.

When the user 1 does not engage in operation, the service isautomatically continued based on the contents 511 distributed accordingto the previous operation log.

The user 1 can engage in a simple operation with the contents 511created with consideration by the contents producer 121 with care.

The contents producer 121 can guide the operation by presenting anoperation guide to the user 1.

Even when there is not connection to the network 303, the contents 511can be used by employing the contents 511 distributed in the past.

The foregoing characteristic constitution can be realized with anextremely simple system as represented in the embodiments.

Characteristics of the information provision system according to thepresent invention are now explained in detail.

Foremost, the scheme for focusing on the main action is explained.

According to the present invention, since the user 1 is able to receiveinformation according to the scene merely by performing operationsrequired only in limited situations while receiving information that isprovided in a well-organized manner, the [user 1] is able to focus onthe main action.

-   (A) Since the scheme integrates information into a single type of    contents 511, the user 1 only has to pay attention to such [contents    511];-   (B) Since the scheme directly designates information required by the    user 1, the user 1 is able to acquire information when one's desired    information is definitive;-   (C) Since the scheme continuously and automatically provides    information, the user 1 is able to obtain information even when    operation is not made or when operation cannot be made;-   (D) Since separate information relating to the designated    information can be induced, the user 1 is able to obtain necessary    information; in other words, the user 1 will hardly be provided with    unnecessary information;-   (E) The operation for reproducing the contents 511, in addition to    being controlled by the user, is also controlled based on sensor    information, external event, and operation for reproducing the    contents; thus, the reproduction of the contents 511 can be    automatically controlled;-   (F) Since the scheme provides information to the user 1 in stages,    the informational relationship is provided in an organized manner;-   (G) Since the scheme changes the subject matter of the contents 511    according to the reproduction of a previous program or external    event, the subject matter of the contents 511 changes according to    the action of the user 1;-   (H) Since the information to be notified is notified to the user 1    via the contents 511, the user 1 will not overlook important    information; and-   (I) The information provision method can be switched according to    the status of the user 1; therefore, the editor (contents producer    121) may employ the optimum method.

Next, the fusion of broadcasting and communication is explained.

As a result of employing the following constitution, enabled is theprovision of a service fusing broadcasting and communication in aninformation provision terminal device 301 comprising a cumulativefeature.

-   Reproduction control and contents management of the information    provision terminal device 301 can be performed based on the    information data contained in the contents 511 to be distributed.-   Since the contents 511 can be distributed as a result of duplicating    the content of the folder 501 without change in the information    provision terminal device 301, distribution is possible via both    broadcasting and communication.

In order to achieve the goal of making the user 1 concentrate on themain action, employed is a constitution satisfying requirements (A) to(I). Thus, the user 1 is able to receive an information provisionservice merely by making simple operations with a remote controller 611or voice command as in a TV broadcast receiver or a radio broadcastreceiver. The user 1 may also change the flow of the continuousprovision of information by performing an operation whenever one pleasesin order to select and acquired one's desired information.

Information contained in the contents 511 can be used to designate orchange the portion to be reproduced within the contents 511, switch thereproduction to separate contents 511, or distribute new contents 511,and this will also enable the use of a communication-type service.

As a result of these characteristics, a service equipped with allcharacteristics of cumulative, broadcasting and communication can berealized via an integrated user interface of a single informationprovision terminal device 301.

Next, the distribution of broadcasting-type contents is explained.

In the present invention, provided is a constitution where informationused by the user 1 of each information provision terminal device 301 canbe selectively distributed from the information provision server 302 inwhich information is integrated uniformly and collected.

Thus, from the perspective of the contents producer 121 to provide theinformation distribution service or the information provider providinginformation to become the source of contents to the contents producer121, this implies that information requested by the user 1 can beselectively distributed merely be preparing the same information inrelation to all information provision terminal devices 301 andregistering such information in the information provision server 302 aswith a conventional broadcasting [system].

According to the present invention, since the selective distribution ofthe contents 511 is induced based on the dynamic mutual relationalbetween the user 1 and the information provision terminal device 301,the information provision server 302 for distributing information canhave an extremely simple constitution, the operation of providing theinformation distribution service can be run at low cost, and anextremely significant economic effect can be expected.

Next, the distribution of communication-type contents is explained.

In the present invention, provided is a constitution where the contents511 can be designated from among the options selectable according to thestatus of each user 1 within the contents 511 distributed pursuant tothe distribution of broadcasting-type contents 511.

When it is not necessary in particular for the user 1 to make anoperation, and the user 1 wishes to make some kind of operation in thebroadcasting-type contents 511, the same contents 511 may be used toprovide a communication-type service such as a web browser whichprovides information selected according to the operation of the user 1.

Further, conventional communication services such as emails and phonecalls may be used upon referring to the contents 511 among the contents511 distributed as the broadcasting-type service.

As a result of comprising the foregoing characteristics, the informationprovision system pertaining to the present invention is able to realizea service comprising all the characteristics of a broadcasting-typeservice, a communication-type service, and a cumulative-type service.

As a result of having integrated the schemes relating to provision ofinformation and operation, the service provision system according to thepresent invention is able to realize the information provision terminaldevice 301 and the information provision server 302 for providinginformation in a simple constitution.

As a result of constituting the information distribution system asfollows, the present invention is able to yield the various advantagesdescribed later even with an extremely simple constitution.

-   1. Information to be distributed is organized in the folder 501 as    the contents 511. Information is collected in the information    provision server 302 having a layered constitution integrated in a    unique top folder;-   2. The productive idea of the contents producer 121 is distributed    by being included in the master designation data 515 or the contents    511 storing an order against the command; and-   3. Based on the operation of the user 1, the information provision    terminal device 301 downloads from the information provision server    302, the contents 511 of the corresponding folder 501 is downloaded    thereby, and all folders 501 beyond the designated folder 501 are    also downloaded.

The following shows that the information provision system pertaining tothe present invention satisfies requirement (A).

In order to satisfy requirement (A), the present invention integratesall of the services indicated below.

-   (a) As shown in FIG. 37, the terminal device is integrated into the    information provision terminal device 301. The terminal device for    providing information does not merely combine the functions of the    respective terminals, it has been integrated so as to satisfy    requirements (B) to (H). As a result, since the user 1 only has to    pay attention to the information provision terminal device 301, such    [user 1] is able to perform simple operations while engaging in the    main action and acquire all types of information.-   (b) Information is integrated.

In the respective information provision terminal devices 301, providedis a constitution where information is organized as contents 511 in aunit (aggregate) referred to as a layered “folder”, and integrated in a“top folder”, which is a folder at the uppermost layer. As a result ofemploying the foregoing constitution, all information is integrated intothe top folder, and it is possible to refer to all information byfollowing such [top folder]. As a result of the contents 511 of theinformation provision terminal device 301 being stored as describedabove, the user 1 will be able to use all contents 511 by utilizing thecontents 511 of the route folder.

Since the contents 511 stored in the top folder and below are based onthe selection made by the previous operation of the user 1, the contents511 provided by the contents user 121 in relation to informationrequired by the user 1 of each terminal will be integrated and stored,the user 1 will be able to designate and acquire necessary informationwith minimal operation.

-   (c) Broadcasting-type service and communication-type service are    integrated.

In order to integrate communication services such as email transmissionand phone calls in addition to merely listening to news or music, thepresent invention provides a scheme referred to as the functionalcontents 513 (FIG. 27).

As a result of the functional contents 513, the user 1 will be able toread emails or make phone calls in addition to [listening] to musicdata. Since the functional contents 513 enable the foregoing use withoperations similar to reproducing music contents all functional contents513 can by used with an operation of an integrated operation control.

As a result of employing the foregoing constitution, an integratedoperation can be realized in both a broadcasting-type service andcommunication-type service.

The information provision system pertaining to the present inventionwhich satisfies requirement (B) is now explained.

In the present invention, the user 1 designates the contents 511 byoperating an operational means such as a voice command or GUI (GraphicalUser Interface) or remote controller 611.

As shown in FIG. 38, as a scheme capable of designating the kind ofinformation that is necessary, provided is a direct designation functionfor directly designating and selecting the contents 511 regarding keyitems or a menu within the contents 511.

The direct designation function is realized with a scheme referred to asa command map or dynamic command. Stored in the command map data 811,for example, in the case of a voice command, are the vocabulary of thevoice command and the correspondence information of the contents 511 tobe selected thereby.

Provided to the dynamic command map data 812 is a function for replacinga part or the whole of the command for the respective contents 511. As aresult of this function, the contents 511 can be directly designated andselected even when the constitution of the contents 511 changes duringthe renewal of the contents 511.

The contents stored in the information provision terminal device 301 arethe contents 511 relating to necessary information which wereautomatically organized as a result of the previous operations of theuser 1 for each user 1 of each respective information provision terminaldevice 301. As a result, only information required by the user 1 will becollected, and the user 1 will be able to arrive at one's desiredinformation with extremely few operations without requiring numerousoperations such as selecting [one's desired information] among thecontents 511 of all layers stored in the information provision server302.

The information provision system pertaining to the present inventionwhich satisfies requirement (C) is now explained.

As shown in FIG. 39, in order to avoid attention becoming diverted as aresult of performing operations to acquire information, the informationprovision system of the present invention provides information asfollows:

-   1. When it is necessary to make an operation immediately, to enable    such immediate operation; and-   2. When the [user] wishes to continuously acquire information    without having to engage in any operation, to automatically and    continuously provide information.

The information provision system pertaining to the present inventionwhich satisfies requirement (D) is now explained.

As shown in FIG. 40, in order to provide information with minimalunnecessary information contained in the presented information theinformation provision system pertaining to the present invention has thefollowing constitution:

-   1. The contents 511 to be provided subsequently is automatically    induced from the contents 511 directly designated and selected by    the user 1 in the beginning; and-   2. When a selection operation is made within the contents 511, such    [contents 511] will be replaced with the subsequent contents 511.

According to the foregoing structure, the initially provided [contents]will be those selected personally by the user 1, and the subsequentcontents 511 will be able to provide information as though it is aresult of the selective operation made by the user while the precedingcontents 511 are being provided, and it is possible to increase thepossibility that the presented information is the information requestedby the user 1.

The information provision system pertaining to the present inventionwhich satisfies requirement (E) is now explained.

As shown in FIG. 41, in order for the informational relationship to beprovided in an organized manner, the information provision systempertaining to the present invention is constituted such that theinformation requested by each user 1 is organized and stored for eachinformation provision terminal device 301 used by the user 1.

Organization of information is conducted by human editors 921-1 to921-3, and the organized results are reflected in the contents layer andcontents data itself then stored in the contents database of theinformation provision center (corresponding to the information sources901-1 to 901-3 in the drawing).

The structure of information organized by the editors 921-1 to 921-3 isautomatically distributed inside the information provision terminaldevice 301 while the necessary information maintains the originallyorganized structure as a result of the user 1 using the contents 511.

As a result, the user 1 will be able to select information easily withminimal operation.

The information provision system pertaining to the present inventionwhich satisfies requirement (F) is now explained.

As shown in FIG. 42, in order to provide appropriate information at anappropriate timing and in appropriate order, the information provisionsystem pertaining to the present invention provides the followingfunctions:

-   1. Flow of the provision of information is controlled based on an    event;-   2. Information to be provided is selected based on an event    generated with the reproduction of contents and-   3. Order of provision is switched based on an event.

As a result of these functions, the contents 511 created by theinformation provider (contents producer 121) will be reproduced in theorder and content that changes according to the request or status of theuser 1 and not in the fixed order determined at the time of editing.

The information provision system pertaining to the present inventionwhich satisfies requirement (G) is now explained.

The present invention provides a constitution enabling the contents 511to change the subject matter of oneself or other contents 511 accordingto an event.

As shown in FIG. 43, with this constitution, the provided informationwill be automatically renewed for each information provision terminaldevice 301, and be able to respond to changes in the user 1 or status.

The information provision system pertaining to the present inventionwhich satisfies requirement (H) is now explained.

With the information provision system pertaining to the presentinvention, as shown in FIG. 43, the reproduction state of the contents511 will change according to the event, and information to be conveyedcan be provided on a case-by-case basis according to changes in the useror environmental status (FIG. 5.2.1G).

The information provision system pertaining to the present inventionwhich satisfies requirement (I) is now explained.

With the information provision system pertaining to the presentinvention, as shown in FIG. 43, the method of providing information canbe switched by comprehending the state of the user 1 from the eventgenerated via the sensors 481-1 to 481-n or the operation of the user 1.

Next, the fusion of broadcasting and communication is explained.

As a result of employing the following constitution, the informationprovision system pertaining to the present invention is able to providea service integrating the characteristics of both the broadcasting andcommunication services:

-   1. When no operation is required, since the provision of information    is automatically continued as with a TV broadcast or FM broadcast,    the user only have to watch or listen; and-   2. When the [user] wishes to make an operation, information to be    obtained will change according to such operation.

Next, the constitution yielded by the broadcasting-type service isexplained:

-   1. The user 1 merely has to select a channel to continuously receive    information; and-   2. The same information can be provided simultaneously to a    plurality of users 1.

Here, the provision of continuous information is explained.

When the user 1 makes an operation to designate the contents 511, thereproduction of the designated contents 511 will automatically start. Asa result of reproducing such contents 511, provided is a constitutionwhere the subsequent contents 511 will be automatically distributedaccording to the productive idea of the contents producer 121, and suchdistribution will be continued automatically. As a result of employingthe foregoing constitution, information can be provided continuouslyeven without the operation of the user 1.

The simultaneous provision of information is now explained.

Since the contents 511 are constituted to accept a network event, whenit is necessary to provide [information] simultaneously, such networkevent can be used to supply information simultaneously.

Next, the constitution yielded by the communication-type service isexplained:

A communication-type service has a two-way communication data flow.Thus, it has the characteristics classified below in comparison to abroadcasting-type service:

-   1. Information can be designated in detail and acquired;-   2. Information can be acquired when needed;-   3. Two-way provision of information is possible;-   4. Email-type service is possible; and-   5. Phone call-type service is possible.

Next, the constitution yielded by the cumulative-type service isexplained:

In the information provision system pertaining to the present invention,the information provision terminal device 301 comprises a contentsmemory unit 388.

As a result of the contents memory unit 388, a cumulative-type serviceenabling the automatic renewal of information and the free designationand use of organized information is yielded.

In recent years, although there are portable music players with abuilt-in hard disk capable of storing over 1,000 songs, the user 1 hasto personally renew the music, and the operation thereof is extremelycomplicated.

According to the present invention, with a device having a similarconstitution, a service enabling the automatic renewal of the contents511 and the [user] to freely select and listen to the contents 511 isyielded.

Next, the functional service is explained.

Firstly, the operation of the functional service is integrated.

With the information provision system pertaining to the presentinvention, a functional service can be incorporated in the operation ofthe information provision service. As a result, the functional servicewill not trouble the user 1, and an effect is yielded in that theattention will not be diverted from the main action.

Secondly, the functional service can be used from the contents.

As a result of the functional contents 513, the functional service canbe activated and controlled from the reproductive data contents 511.

Thirdly, external equipment can be controlled.

As a result of employing a constitution of adding the function of anactuator connection unit 466, the external equipment 433 can becontrolled.

Next, the integration of the contents 511 is explained.

In the present invention, as a result of employing the followingconstitution, all actions that can be performed by the informationprovision terminal device 301 may be performed as a single action ofusing the contents 511:

-   1. Handle all information to be provided as contents 511;-   2. Control all types of contents 511 with an integration operation;-   3. All contents 511 exist in one of the layered folders 501 below a    unique route folder; and-   4. One of the contents 511 can be designated and used based on the    operation of the information provision terminal device 301.

Actions that can be performed by using the contents 511 is not limitedto simply listening to the news or weather forecast, trafficinformation, or music information.

For instance, in the example of an in-car information provision terminaldevice 301, all actions explained as the contents 511 in the embodimentssuch as reading emails aloud, transmitting and receiving voice mails,listening to the status information of the vehicle 311, communicatingwith a person outside the vehicle 311 and so on may be realized.

The simple constitution is now explained.

Foremost, the information provision server 302 is explained.

In the present invention, the distribution of contents 511 is conductedby copying all folders among one of the folder 501 and below among oneof the layers in the same hierarchical structure from all distributiondata prepared in the hierarchical structure on the information provisionserver 302.

Therefore, the information provision server 302 only has to forward allinformation of the folder 501 and below designated by the informationprovision terminal device 301.

As a result of adopting the foregoing constitution, the informationdistribution system capable of achieving the object of the presentinvention can be created in an extremely simple structure.

Next, the information provision terminal device 301 will be explained.

The present invention is constituted such that, based on the informationdata (e.g., master designation data 515 or dynamic command map data 812)contained in the contents 511 distributed from the information provisionserver 302 to the information provision terminal device 301, thecontents 511 is able to control the reproduction of the informationprovision terminal device 301 or administer the renewal or deletion ofthe contents stored in the information provision terminal device 301based on the idea of the contents producer 121.

Further, as a result of the user 1 using the contents 511 distributedpreviously, which subsequent contents 511 is required will bedetermined, and thereby enabled are contents 511 that can beautomatically distributed.

As a result of employing the foregoing constitution, the informationprovision terminal device 301 will only have to store the designatedcontents 511 in the contents memory unit 388, and perform reproductionsaccording to the information data (e.g., master designation data 515 ordynamic command map data 812) contained in the stored contents 511.

The switching of the means or method of providing information is nowexplained.

It is desirable that the information provision terminal device 301 isequipped with a plurality of information output devices (or programs)such that they can be used properly according to the content ofinformation provided by the contents producer 121.

The [devices] are used appropriately in the embodiments of the presentinvention as follows:

-   1. Notification with LED and sound;-   2. Provision of information with images using a liquid crystal    display device (liquid crystal display unit 608); and-   3. Provision of information only with sound.

The notification with LED and sound is used to notify the user 1 evenwhen the power of the information provision terminal device 301 isturned off.

The provision of information with images using a liquid crystal displaydevice is used when the user 1 is able to use one's visual sense. Theuse of GUI is included in this case.

The provision of information only with sound is used in a case when theuser is not able to focus one's visual sense to the informationprovision terminal device 301 such as when driving the vehicle 311.

In order to achieve the object of the present invention, it must bepossible to appropriately use the means for providing informationaccording to the status of use of the user. Thus, since requesting theuser's operation will lead to the user's attention being diverted fromthe main action, it is desirable to do this automatically as much aspossible.

In the present invention, as a result of preparing a plurality ofcontents having different information provision means in advance withinthe contents to be distributed, and automatically switching the contentswithout waiting for the user's operation when a sensor event isgenerated, the foregoing operation can be realized. Specifically, forexample, in the contents for providing a sightseeing guide to an in-carinformation provision terminal device 301, the sightseeing guideproducer (contents producer 121) prepares in advance audio contents fora case where the vehicle is running and visual contents for a case whenthe vehicle is parked, and distributes both contents as singlesightseeing guide contents. Assuming a case where the sightseeing guidecontents will be reproduced, the contents producer 121 will merely haveto describe in the master designation data 515 information data thatwill switch the contents in correspondence with the sensor event of thesensor while the vehicle is running.

As described above, a feature of the present invention is that thecontents producer 121 is able to create and distribute the contents 511that are selectable with the information provision means. As a result ofthis feature, the contents producer 121 will be able to provideinformation employing the most effective presentation in considerationof the constrained conditions of the user 1.

Specifically, in the sightseeing guide described above, a visual guidemay be provided when the vehicle is parked, and an audio guide may beprovided when the vehicle is running.

As a result of the master designation data 515, it is possible toautomatically switch the audio contents 511 for a case where the vehicleis running and the visual contents 511 for a case when the vehicle isparked.

In an application that does not require the switching from the contentsproducer 121, when the sensor 481 detects the movement of the vehicle311, the constitution may be such that the display is stopped, or thedisplay is confined to a degree which will not hinder the driving.

As a result of adding an actuator connection unit 466 for connectingcontrollable external equipment 433 to the outside of the informationprovision terminal device 301, the information provision terminal device301 will be able to control the external equipment 433 based on an eventgenerated from the contents 511.

As a result of adopting a constitution with such actuator function addedthereto, the contents producer 121 will be able to create contents 511capable of controlling the external equipment 433.

In the information provision terminal device 301, information is storedin layers with a data structure referred to as a folder 501.

FIG. 44 is a diagram showing the concept of the folder 501. The folder501 is structured in layers, and differentiates the contents 511 that itstores internally from the contents 511 stored in the other folders 501.In other words, the contents 511 stored in a single folder 501 aremutually associated and constitute an aggregate.

When the folder 501 is transmitted from the information provision server302 to the information provision terminal device 301, the folder 501 ofthe descendant of the prescribed folder 501 will also be transmittedfrom the information provision server 302 to the information provisionterminal device 301.

FIG. 45 is a diagram showing the data structure for managinginformation. In the example shown in FIG. 45, the route folder 501-1contains folder 501-2, folder 501-3 and folder 501-4. And stored in thefolder 501-4 are contents 511-1, contents 511-2, contents 511-3,contents 931-1 representing folder 501-5, contents 931-2 representingfolder 501-6, contents 931-3 representing folder 501-7, play list 514and master designation data 515.

As a result of a scheme having this kind of data structure and masterdesignation data 515, in the present invention, since the distributionof the contents 511 can be conducted merely by reading the folder 501 ofthe designated folder 501 and below from the contents 511 prepared inthe hierarchical structure on the information provision server 302, andcopying this in the contents memory unit 388 of the informationprovision terminal device 301, the constitution of the informationprovision server 302 and information provision terminal device 301 canbe kept simple.

Even when the contents 511 distributed to the information provisionterminal device 301 and stored in the contents memory unit 388 withinthe information provision terminal device 301 are the contents 511 to bedynamically renewed according to an event, it will be sufficient bymerely reading the folder 501 of the designated folder 501 and belowfrom the contents 511 prepared in a hierarchical structure on theinformation provision server 302 and copying all such [folders 501] inthe contents memory unit 388 of the information provision terminaldevice 301. This is a significant feature of the present invention, andthe contents producer 121 is able to easily create the contents 511 thatwill be automatically renewed after distribution.

This feature is yielded by the master control unit 451 being able toamend, add and delete the subject matter of the contents 511 inaccordance with the master designation data 515 recorded in the contentsmemory unit 388 of the information provision terminal device 301 createdby the contents producer 121.

The folder 501 can store one of the following:

-   (a) Play list 514;-   (b) Contents (data) 511;-   (c) Master designation data 515;-   (d) (Contents 931 representing) Folder 501; and-   (e) Dynamic command map data 812.

As a result of storing a separate folder 501 inside the folder 501, thelayering of the contents 511 can be realized.

In the present embodiment, the command map data 811 is stored in theroute folder 501-1 of the information provision terminal device 301, andthis is automatically read upon the activation of the informationprovision terminal device 301. The constitution may be such that thecommand map data 811 is incorporated in the software of the informationprovision terminal device 301 in advance.

When the user 1 performs an operation and designates the contents 511 tobe reproduced, the master control unit 451 reads the master designationdata 515 and dynamic command map data 812 contained in the foldercorresponding to the designated contents and designates the folder 501and designates the reproduction to the play list reader 452.

When the folder 501 is designated from the master control unit 451, theplay list reader 452 reads the play list 514 in the folder 501, selectsthe player 453 for each type of contents 511 in the order describedtherein, and designates the contents 511 and makes the player 453reproduce the contents.

The player 453 reproduces the designated contents 511.

When a folder 501, which is a sub-folder, is contained in the folder501, the foregoing processing is performed to such sub-folder in arecursive manner.

The subjects handled as contents by the contents provision system are asfollows.

In order to handle a plurality of types of contents 511, the player 453is installed for each type of required contents 511.

The classification of characters of the player 453 is as follows.

The reproductive data contents 511 are data storing images and sounds.The reproductive data contents 511 are stored in MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4,MP3 or other formats. The player 453 is installed for each format.

In an embodiment of the in-car information provision terminal device301, MP3 is used as the sound contents and MPEG2 or MPEG4 is used as thevisual contents.

The coded data contents 512 are data storing encoded images and music.This corresponds to data storing encoded sounds and images such as MIDI(Musical Instrument Digital Interface) or FLASH (trademark). Read-alouddata stored in text format to be reproduced upon being converted intoaudio with Text to Speech is included therein.

In the embodiment of the in-car information provision terminal device301, MIDI and Text to Speech are used as the coded data contents 512.

In addition to the above, the functional contents 513 include contentsin which information that is not a reproductive image or sound likethose described below is converted into visual or audio information. Itis also possible to install a player 453 capable of reproducing suchfunctional contents 513.

The following are comparatively simple examples.

-   Functional contents 513 for reading aloud the time of reproduction,    and the player 453 for reproducing such [sound].-   Functional contents 513 for reading aloud the position at the time    of reproduction as the longitude and latitude, and the player 453    for reproducing such [sound].-   Functional contents 513 for reading aloud the location at the time    of reproduction as the address notation, and the player 453 for    reproducing such [sound].-   Functional contents 513 for reading aloud the battery voltage status    at the time of reproduction, and the player 453 for reproducing such    [sound].-   Functional contents 513 which are the camera image contents showing    the front or rear of the vehicle, and the player 453 for displaying    such [image].-   Functional contents 513 which are the camera image contents showing    the driver's seat, and the player 453 for displaying such [image].-   Functional contents 513 for displaying images of a camera connected    to a network 303, and the player 453 for displaying such [image].

Examples of more sophisticated functional contents 513 are describedbelow.

-   Functional contents 513 that receives an email with the information    provision server 302, converts the received email into a vocalizable    format and storing it in a layer of the contents 511, and notifies    the incoming email event to the event processing unit 461, and the    player 453 for reproducing such [functional contents].-   Schedule: Functional contents 513 for reproducing the schedule like    an event guide of an FM radio program based on the schedule data of    personalized information of the information provision server 302.-   Phone call contents: Functional contents 513 for guiding the method    of making a phone call when started, and enabling a phone    conversation by performing operations according to such guide.-   Route guide: Functional contents 513 for guiding the route to be run    based on the positional information event from the positional    information sensor.-   Functional contents 513 for making a malfunction notice based on an    event from the sensor 481 for detecting the failure of the vehicle    311, and sending the event to the center not shown and running the    guide contents.-   When there is a fellow passenger, functional contents 513 for making    a protection display to protect privacy.-   Functional contents 513 for changing the response operation upon    receiving a network event in accordance with the user's convenience.-   Functional contents 513 for enabling hands-free communication with a    connected portable phone upon adding a portable phone connection    device to the information provision terminal device 301.

The player 453 capable reproducing such functional contents is installedsuch that it can be controlled from the master control unit 451 with thedesignation similar to the reproductive data contents 511. As a result,the user 1 employing such functional contents 513 is able to use thecontents 511 by performing the entirely same operations as with thereproductive data contents 511.

Since the functional contents 513 can be controlled as with thereproductive data contents 511 and coded data contents 512, theoperational feeling of the user 1 will be integrated, the operationcorresponding to the event can be matched, and services in relation toall types of contents can be integrated.

Next, the master designation data 515 will be explained.

An important feature in the information provision system pertaining tothe present invention is to enable the control of all contents 511 to513 with the master control unit 451 as described above. As a result ofthis feature, the contents producer 121 will be able to handle all typesof contents among the contents 511 to 513.

The master designation data 515 is used to realize the foregoing scheme.

The designation against the master control unit 451 is described in themaster designation data 515 with the following logical structure.

<When> <What> <How>

The subject matter designated with the master designation data 515 isdescribed in detail below.

The description regarding the portion of <When> is now explained. Themaster control unit 451 operates based on the event input from the eventprocessing unit 461. Thus, it will operate when one of the events isinput. The description regarding the portion of <When> represents anevent.

The following are examples of the description regarding the portion of<When>:

-   1. When the user makes an operation;-   2. When the sensor detects an abnormality;-   3. When a timer event is generated;-   4. When the sensor connected to the network 303 detects and    abnormality;-   5. When an event is received from another information provision    terminal device 301;-   6. When the contents 511 generates an event; and-   7. When the reproduction of the player 453 is ended.

The description regarding the portion of <What> represents the target tobe the subject of processing.

The following are examples of the description regarding the portion of<What>:

-   1. Contents data;-   2. Contents folder;-   3. Master designation data 515;-   4. Pointer;-   5. Pointer stack 460;-   6. Event; and-   7. Dynamic command map data 812.

The description regarding the portion of <How> represents the content ofprocessing.

The following are examples of contents data, and the processing to beperformed to the contents data, master designation data 515 and dynamiccommand map.

-   1. Delete;-   2. Renew;-   3. Newly create;-   4. Change the pointer or pointer stack 460; and-   5. Generate an event.

The administration of contents 511 in the information provision terminaldevice 301 is now explained.

In the method pertaining to the present invention, the writing in ordeletion of the folder 501, and the creation of a new folder 501 is notconducted with the operation of the user 1, and is characterized in thatthese are conducted only with the master control unit 451.

FIG. 46 is a diagram showing the scheme of managing the folder 501.

Since the master control unit 451 only performs operations along thesubject matter described in the master designation data 515 (or commandmap data 811 or dynamic command map data 812), the following advantagesare yielded:

-   1. Reproduction of the contents 511 will not be conducted    incorrectly as a result of data being lost due to an erroneous    operation of the user 1 as with a computer OS;-   2. The contents producer 121 can provide necessary data in the    terminal;-   3. Since actions other than the designated action will not be    conducted, data (contents 511) will not be destroyed; and-   4. Conditions for writing or deleting data (contents 511) can be    reliably managed by the contents producer 121.

As with a personal computer OS, in order to prevent the invasion of acomputer virus via the network 303 or recording medium, and to preventthe destruction or falsification of information, it is preferable tostrictly follow the scheme of only enabling the master control unit 451to conduct the writing in or deletion of the folder 501, and thecreation of a new folder 501, and to prevent the user 1 to engage insuch operations.

In the information provision terminal device 301, it is not preferableto install the hierarchical structure of the contents 511 with thefolder 501 such that it is merely associated with and stored on thelayer of a directory in the file system of an OS. In a standard OS, inaddition to the master control unit 451, the user 1, systemadministrator and network administrator are able to access the contents511 with the folder 501 with an operational command provided with theOS, and, since contradictions may arise, it is not possible to guaranteethe performance of prescribed operations.

Or, software unrelated to the provision of information pursuant to thepresent invention such as tools or application software being executedin a terminal will be able to access the contents 511 with the folder501, and, since contradictions may arise, it is not possible toguarantee the performance of prescribed operations.

When installing software, for the purpose of maintenance, capable ofaccessing the contents memory unit 388, play list reader 452, pointerstack 457, current pointer and initial pointer memory unit 458 otherthan the master control unit 451, it is necessary to avoid any operationthat will contradict the operation of the master control unit 451.

When installing the present invention on an ordinary OS such as LINUX,it is necessary to strictly administer the protective information of thefile and authorization to be provided to the process, and to avoid anyoperation that will contradict with the operation of the master controlunit 451 such as allowing software other then the master control unit451 to read or write the contents memory unit 388, play list reader 452,pointer stack 457, current pointer 459, and initial pointer memory unit458.

FIG. 47 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure in theinformation provision terminal device 301. As shown in FIG. 47, data(contents 511) is managed in layers.

Although the data structure in the information provision terminal device301 is of a hierarchical structure reflecting a layered logicalstructure of the information provision server 302, this is not a copy ofall information, and differs in accordance with the usage situation ofeach information provision terminal device 301.

In the example shown in FIG. 47, the route folder 501-1 contains fivefolders 501, and these respectively store contents Classified as latestinformation, guide, music, navigation and tool. The structure of thesefive folders 501-2 to 501-6 and the information contained as the subjectmatter thereof are not fixed and set in all information provisionterminal devices 301 in advance, and become the data structure as shownin the example as a result of the initial state changing upon the userusing the information provision terminal device 301.

Since the folder 501 is administered inside the information provisionterminal device 301, there is no need for a name corresponding to thefile name used by a person in a personal computer OS. Below, in theexplanation of the embodiments of the present invention, the folder501-2 storing the classified into the latest information is referred toas the latest information folder.

The latest information folder 501-2 contains three folders 501, andcontents 511 relating to news, weather forecast and traffic informationare stored therein.

The news folder 501-7 contains four folders, and contents 511 relatingto general news, social news, economic news and sports news are storedtherein.

The tool folder 501-6 has functional contents 513 stored therein.

The navigation folder 501-5 has contents 511 for guiding the user storedtherein.

The operation of the user 1 is input from the human interface unit 431to the master control unit 451 via the event processing unit 461, andconveys the request of the user 1 to the contents 511 to be reproducedwith the operation of the master control unit 451.

Next, the operation of designating the contents 511 is explained.

The user 1 designates information organized in a layer in the form ofcontents 511, and performs an operation for designating one's desiredinformation to the information provision terminal device 301.

In the information provision system pertaining to the present invention,all information can be extracted as the starting point for reproducingthe contents 511 of the route folder 501-1. Since there is a directdesignation function, the contents 511 may be reproduced from the folder501 that was directly designated, and not from the route folder 501-1.

When the information to be used is always the same, by registering the(folder 501 of the) contents 511 to be foremost reproduced in theinitial pointer memory unit 458, such contents 511 can be made to beconstantly reproduced upon the activation of the information provisionterminal device 301.

With any one of the above as the starting point, reproduction of thedesignated contents 511 in the contents memory unit 388 is started.

Stored in the command map data 811 is the correspondence of theoperational command and the designated contents 511.

As a result of the dynamic command map data 812, correspondence of theoperational command and the contents 511 can be dynamically administeredfor the respective contents 511. The dynamic command map data 812 mayonly be used by the contents 511 requiring an addition or change ofcommand.

FIG. 48 is a diagram showing the operation of the information provisionterminal device 301 when operated by the user 1.

The operation for controlling the reproduction of the contents 511 isnow explained.

Reproduction of the contents 511 is started by one of the folders 501 ina layer of the route folder 501-1 and below being designated as a resultof the user 1 operating the information provision terminal device 301.

After the user 1 designates the first contents 511, when no operation ismade, reproduction of the contents 511 in the folder 501 of thedesignated contents 511 will be continued until such reproduction [ofall contents] is finished.

When the user 1 performs a reproduction control operation in a timingwhen contents 511 are being reproduced, the player 453 and play listreader 452 are controlled via the master control unit 451, andreproduction is started or stopped, or jumps to the subsequent contents511, or returns to the previous contents 511.

In the embodiments of the present embodiment, the following are examplesof the reproduction control operation of the contents 511;

-   1. Start;-   2. Stop;-   3. Next;-   4. Back;-   5. Directly designate contents;-   6. Help;-   7. Explain; and-   8. Select.

The direct designation of contents 511 is made with a voice command(command composed of vocalized words), and, for instance, a designationis made such as “weather forecast, Tokyo, Chiyoda Ward”.

As a result of using the voice command “help” during the reproduction ofthe contents 511, contents for explaining the method of using thecontents 511 are reproduced.

As a result of using the voice command “guide” during the reproductionof the contents 511, contents 511 for explaining the contents 511 beingreproduced are reproduced.

Incidentally, the constitution may integrate “help” and “explain” intothe “explain” command.

Further, the constitution may integrate [“help” and “explain”] into the“detail” command.

Moreover, the constitution may also add a repeat command for repeatingthe reproduction of the contents 511 to the command.

Incidentally, the constitution may also add the response confirmationcommand of “yes” and “no” to the command.

In addition, the constitution may also add a “check” command for markingthe contents 511 to the command.

Or, a command may be added when new contents 511 are distributed.

Next, the operation in relation to the contents is explained.

Since it is possible to write a designation in relation to the mastercontrol unit 451 when an event is input in the master designation data515, the contents producer 121 will be able to create contents 511capable of changing the flow of reproducing the contents 511 based onthe operation of the user 1.

As a result, when the contents producer 121 creates contents 511utilizing a human interface event, the reproductive operation of thecontents 511 can be changed pursuant to the operation of the user 1.

From the perspective of the user 1, such [user 1] will be able tooperate the contents 511.

The operation of functional contents 513 is realized with the foregoingscheme, and, since the [contents] can also be controlled with a networkevent or sensor event in addition to an event resulting from theoperation of the user 1, the [contents] may be controlled via remotecontrol via the network 303, or the reproduction thereof can beautomatically started based on the event detected with the sensor 481.

The operation of designating the order of the contents 511 is nowexplained.

As a result of employing the following constitution, a voice command maybe used to designate the order of the contents 511.

For example, with the following command, contents A, B and C arereproduced in order. “Designate order” <voice command for designatingcontents A> <voice command for designating contents B> <voice commandfor designating contents C> “end”

Here, “designate order” is a command for starting the designation of theorder. “End” is a command for ending the designation of the order.

As a result of designating the order as described above, the user 1 isable to receive information in the order of one's request.

As a result of using the individual direct designation commands afterthe foregoing order designation operation, it is possible to acquireinformation not contained in contents A, B or C; for instance, contentsD. In such a case, when the reproduction of contents D is finished, as aresult of returning to a state when the contents D was automaticallydesignated, the provision of information in the order requested by theuser 1 is continued.

When providing information in the order requested by the user 1 with theforegoing operation and using different contents upon performing anoperation, the present invention performs a characteristic operationenabling the operation at an arbitrary timing.

Next, the information provision server 302 is now explained withreference to FIG. 49.

The information provision terminal device 301 downloads information fromthe information provision server 302 via the network 303.

Stored in the information provision server 302 are contents to beprovided to the information provision terminal device 301.

Stored in the information provision server 302 are contents 511(information) in layers, and the information provision terminal device301 stores the contents 511 downloaded from the information provisionserver 302 via the network 303 in the contents memory unit 388.

Since all providable contents 511 are stored in the informationprovision server 302, typically, many more contents 511 are stored incomparison to the information provision terminal device 301.

In the present invention, since the contents 511 stored in theinformation provision server 302 are also able to delete the contents511 stored in the information provision terminal device 301, it isnecessary to be particularly careful regarding the security of theinformation provision server 302.

In the embodiments of the present invention, in order to safelyadminister the information of the information provision server 302, onlythe contents registration terminal devices 1101-1 to 1101-3 are able toregister the contents 511 in the information provision server 302.Provided to the respective editors 921-1 to 921-3 are contentsregistration terminal devices 1101-1 to 1101-3, and, as a result of onlyallowing the contents registration terminal devices 1101-1 to 1101-3 toregister, amend, or delete the contents 511, a third party (editor 1102without authorization) that does not possess any one of the contentsregistration terminal devices 1101-1 to 1101-3 and that only possessesanother information terminal device 1103 will not be able to falsify thecontents 511. Further, a third party (a person who engages in so-calledhacking (hacker, cracker) 1104) that only possesses the informationterminal device 1105 will not be able to falsify the contents 511.

In order to prevent problems among the editors 921-1 to 921-3, it isdesirable to designate a separate folder 501 for each editor 921-1 to921-3 and administer such [folder 501] individually.

In the embodiments of the present invention, although the constitutionis such that all contents 511 are stored in a single informationprovision server 302, in a larges-scale information provision center,the constitution may be such that the [contents 511] are dispersed to aplurality of servers such as a commercially available load sharingdevice. According to the present invention, since it will suffice forthe information provision server 302 to send the contents 511 requestedfrom information provision terminal device 301 via the network 303, the[contents 511] can be dispersed to a plurality of servers with a simpleconstitution.

Next, the characteristic operation of the information provision terminaldevice 301 and information provision server 302 is explained.

In the present invention, as a result or providing a scheme fordistributing the contents 511 such that the contents 511 are distributedfrom the information provision server 302 in which information isintegrated uniformly and organized in a layered folder 501, download fordistributing the contents 511 is conducted in stages by the informationprovision terminal device 301 independently from the operation of theuser 1, the contents producer 121 is able to create the contents 511based on one's productive idea so that such contents 511 will coincidewith a part of the contents 511 before the user 1 requires information,and the information provision terminal device 301 automaticallycontrolling the reproduction of contents 511 according to an eventinside the information provision terminal device 301 and outside theinformation provision terminal device 301, the object of the [presentinvention] can be achieved.

The operation of continuously extracting information is now explained.

One feature of the present invention is that, when the user 1 designatesthe contents 511, subsequent contents 511 are automatically extractedfrom the information provision server 302, and downloaded into theinformation provision terminal device 301 one after another, and therebyenabling the continuous provision of information.

Thereupon, the following characteristic operation differs significantlyfrom the ordinary contents distribution of downloading the contents 511and using such downloaded contents 511. In other words, instead ofdesignating the contents to be downloaded and downloading such contents511, the operation of the user 1 of using the contents 511 that havebeen distributed and which are readily available will automaticallyinduce, indirectly, the distribution of the subsequent contents 511, andthe foregoing sequence being linked to enable the continuous provisionof information is a characteristic operation of the informationprovision system pertaining to the present invention.

By the user 1 making an operation to switch to separate contents 1, orto stop the reproduction of the command via stop of pause, the operationof the continuous contents distribution is automatically stopped. In ascheme of controlling the contents distribution on the transmittingside, a complicated operation between the server and terminal device isrequired to stop the continuous contents distribution. In the presentinvention, however, without the contents producer 121 having to make aparticular designation, the continuous contents distribution can beautomatically stopped with a simple operation that does not require anylinkage with the information provision server 302. This aspect is also asignificant feature of the present invention.

What the user 1 has to do is an extremely simple operation of selectingthe information to be acquired, reproducing or stopping the acquiredinformation, and switching to separate contents 511, and this can beperformed without having much effect on the main action. And, with thesimple action described above, a significant feature of the presentinvention is that information required by the user is automaticallydistributed from the information provision server 302 to the informationprovision terminal device 301 in an appropriate amount, andautomatically layered, organized and stored.

The fundamental form of operation for continuously extractinginformation is now explained with reference to FIG. 50.

The first layer folder is folder 501-1, and the second layer folder isfolder 501-2, folder 501-3, folder 501-4 and folder 501-5. Folder 501-8is stored in the folder 501-3, and folders 501-6 and 501-7 are stored inthe folder 501-5. Folder 501-8 stores contents A, and folder 501-6stores contents B. Folder 501-7 stores contents C.

Contents A, which are the contents 511 stored in folder 501-8, arecomposed of contents A1 to A3 which are contents 511-1 to contents511-3; and contents B, which are the contents 511 stored in folder501-6, are composed of contents B1 to contents B5 which are contents511-4 to contents 511-8. The play list 514 of the folder 501-8represents the order of the contents 511-1 (A1), contents 511-2 (A2) andcontents 511-3 (A3). The play list 514 of folder 501-6 represents theorder of the contents 511-4 (B1), contents 511-5 (B2), contents 511-6(B3), contents 511-7 (B4) and contents 511-8 (B5).

The user 1 directly designates contents 511-1 (A1), which have beencompletely distributed, with a voice command and starts the reproductionthereof.

Let it be assumed that the contents producer 121 of contents A wants theperson who listened to contents A to continue listening to contents B.In such a case, the contents producer 121 of contents A may write adesignation in the master designation data 515 contained in contents Asuch that the download of contents B is activated when contents A isreproduced, and, such that the reproduction of contents B is startedwhen the reproduction of contents A is finished.

Specifically, this routine can be described as follows:

-   1. The download of contents B is started when the reproduction start    event of contents 511-1 (A1) is generated; and-   2. After the download of contents B is completed, contents B is    added to the end of the play list 514 of folder 501-8.

As a result of the contents producer 121 creating a master designationdata 515 designating “When the reproduction start event of contents511-1 (A1) is generated, start the download of contents B”, when thereproduction of contents 511-1 (A1) within contents A is started, themaster control unit 451 designates the start of download of contents Bbased on the designated written in the master designation data 515contained in contents A. Since the play list 514 is in the order ofcontents 511-1 (A1), contents 511-2 (A2) and contents 511-3 (A3),contents 511-1 (A1), contents 511-2 (A2) and contents 511-3 (A3) will bereproduced in order.

Based on the designation of “When the download of contents B iscompleted, add contents B to the end of the play list 514 of folder501-8”, when the download of contents B is completed, contents B will bereproduced after contents A3 since the [contents] subsequent to contents511-3 (A3) of the play list 514 of folder 501-8 will be rewritten to becontents B.

Since folder 501-6 of contents B contains contents 511-4 (B1) tocontents 511-8 (B5), and the play list of contents B is in the order ofcontents 511-4 (B1), contents 511-5 (B2), contents 511-6 (B3), contents511-7 (B4) and contents 511-8 (B5), contents B will be reproducedsubsequent to contents 511-3 (A3).

When the reproduction of contents 511-4 (B1) is started, if separatecontents C is downloaded and added to the play list 514, thereproduction of contents 511 will be conducted with the same procedure.

If the user 1 did not designate contents A, contents B and othercontents to be downloaded will not be downloaded. Since the same thingis also possible when the other contents 511 that can be directlydesignated by the user 1 are reproduced, information stored in thecontents memory unit 388 of each information provision terminal device301 will automatically be a different constitution according to theuser's request depending on which contents the user 1 designated.

The user 1 may designate and reproduce separate contents 511 anywhereduring the ordinal reproduction of contents A, contents B and contentsC. If this is during the reproduction of contents A, contents C will notbe distributed. Accordingly, the distribution of contents B and contentsC is not conducted in all information provision terminal devices 301that started the reproduction of contents A.

With the processing described above, until the user 1 considers thatinformation has been acquired sufficiently and switches to separatecontents 511, an operation of continuously reproducing the contents 511designated initially can be realized.

When the reproduction of contents 511-3 (A3) is finished but thedownload of contents B not finished, in this example, since the playlist the same as before, reproduction of contents A will finish. Whenthe reproduction of contents is not to be suspended, for example,sufficiently long contents A4 may be reproduced after contents 511-3(A3), and, when the download of contents B is finished, contents B maybe added upon deleting contents A4. Or, it is possible to createcontents such that the user is notified when the reproduction ofcontents B is finished, and contents B from the play list of thenotified contents may be reproduced.

In this example, since the user 1 selected contents A, whencommunication is no longer made or when distribution is not in time, thereproduction of contents A and contents B is finished, and thereproduction of the contents 511 prior to being switched to contents Ais continued. Therefore, even when communication cannot be made in oneof the stages, the reproduction of the previous contents 511 will beautomatically continued, and the service will not be discontinued. Asdescribed above, even when the contents producer 121 (contents producer121 of contents A and contents B in this example) does not designate anoperation corresponding to the suspension of communication, theoperation of automatically continuing the service without having to waitfor the operation of the user 1 is a significant feature of the presentinvention.

When the communication speed of the network 303 for downloading thecontents 511 is relatively stable, the situation can be dealt with thesimple procedure described above. When it is anticipated thatcommunication may not be made for a long period of time such as in thecase of an in-car information provision terminal device 301 or the like,it is desirable to create the contents 511 upon giving consideration tosuch situation in advance. Since a situation of the vehicle 311 beingparked underground for a long period of time can also be expected,although it is difficult in principle to guarantee that communicationwill be made within a prescribed period of time, in the presentinvention, as a result of the editor 921 creating contents 511 utilizingan event, it will be possible to deal with the situation flexibly inaccordance with the editing policy.

When making a more complex presentation, the contents 511 may beconstituted freely by creating the contents 511 with the various methodsdescribed below.

For example, there is an on-demand operation.

In the present invention, this implies the creation of contents based onthe productive idea of enabling the user 1 to use a voice command duringthe reproduction of the contents 511 to change the flow of thereproduction of the contents 511 and acquire one's desired information.

The fact that the on-demand operation explained below is independentfrom the distribution of the designated contents 511 is a significantfeature of the method according to the present invention. In otherwords, when performing an on-demand operation, instead of performing asimple operation of downloading and providing the designated contents511, as a result of the distribution of required contents 511 beingautomatically conducted effectively independent from the operation ofthe user 1, it could be said that the characteristic feature is toprovide a scheme for creating contents enabling the immediate use of thecontents 511 upon the user 1 performing an operation since such[contents 511] have already been distributed. According to the presentinvention, since related information has already been distributed to andstored in the information provision terminal device 301 in many caseswhen the user 1 needs information, the user 1 is able to immediately usesuch [information] with an on-demand operation.

The on-demand operation of the contents 511 distributed and stored inthe information provision terminal device 301 is now explained. Whenperforming a command in the following explanation, since thedistribution of the contents 511 has already been completed, there is notime lag caused by the time required for downloading the contents 511from the information provision server 302 to the information provisionterminal device 301, and a quick response can be acquired.

For example, as a result of using the “help” command during thereproduction of certain contents 511, the contents 511 for explainingthe method of using the contents 511 prepared in advance by the contentsproducer 121 will be reproduced.

As a result of using the “explain” command during the reproduction ofthe contents 511, the contents 511 for explaining the subject matter ofthe contents 511 prepared in advance by the contents producer 121 willbe reproduced.

As a result of using the “select” command during the reproduction of thecontents 511, an operation designated in correspondence to the selectionduring the reproduction of the contents 511 will be performed.

As a result of using the direct designation command, the contents 511may be directed designated and selected, and information contained inthe contents 511 may be received thereby.

Standard modes of use of the user 1, for example, are as follows:

-   1. To listen to traffic information with “traffic information” to go    home from work with one's car (vehicle 311);-   2. To listen to economic news with “latest information, news,    economic” to find out today's stock price;-   3. To find out tomorrow's weather by designating “weather forecast”;    and-   4. To listen to music contents with “music, latest pops”.

Incidentally, in the foregoing explanation, traffic information,economic news, weather forecast and latest pops are automaticallydistributed with the automatic distribution scheme described later.

Further, in order to explain the on-demand operation in the descriptionprovided above, an example of employing only direct operation isillustrated. According to the preference of the user 1, it is alsopossible to create contents 511 in which the traffic information andstock information and weather forecast are automatically provided.

In the present invention, individual distribution of the contents 511 inrelation to the individual inputs of each command; that is, the downloadof the contents 511 from the information provision server 302 to theinformation provision terminal device 301 is not conducted. Distributionof the contents 511 is conducted with the information data (e.g., masterdesignation data 515 or dynamic command map data 812) described based onthe productive idea of the contents producer 121.

As a result of providing a constitution enabling the creation ofcontents as described above, a complicated operation such as the user 1designating the contents 511 to be distributed each and every time,waiting for the download thereof to finish, use the contents 511 afterthe download is complete, and newly designating the contents 511 therebywill not be required.

The contents producer 121 may collect information necessary in theprovision of information or operation at a certain stage in advance anddistribute such information. This can be yielded by employing aconstitution which downloads all contents 511 of the folder 501 andbelow storing the contents 511.

As a result, the user 1 will only have to engage in an act of using oneof the contents 511 in which the distribution thereof was completedbased on the previous operational log, and there is no need to know thescheme of distributing the contents or to perform operations accordingto the scheme of distribution.

Operation of the download independent from the operation of the user 1is now explained.

Foremost, the operation for presenting options to the user is explained.

As a result of combining the operation for continuously extractinginformation and the function of the on-demand operation, the user 1 willbe able to directly designate and reproduce the contents 511 with thedirect designation command, the designated contents 511 will draw in thesubsequent contents 511 into the information provision terminal device501, information will continue to be provided, the subsequent contents511 further draws in the subsequent contents 511 into the informationprovision terminal device 501, information will continue to be provided,and this is continued until the user 1 becomes satisfied with thecontinuous provision of information, or until different informationbecomes necessary. In the foregoing operation, the flow is such that theuser 1 personally recognizes the change operation to change the flow.Therefore, the [user 1] is only able to perform operations in which such[user 1] remembers the command thereof.

A characteristic feature of the present invention of the user 1 beingable select from the options even when the [user 1] does not rememberthe command, and the provision of information is continued automaticallywhen the user 1 does not need to make a selection or when the [user 1]is not able to make a selective operation is now explained. As a resultof this operation, the contents producer 121 will be able to provideinformation organized simply like an ordinary FM broadcast program tothe user not requiring any operation, and create the contents 511 inwhich the user 1 can operate and select necessary information forobtaining detailed information as a single kind of contents.

In a parked situation, although it would suffice to display a menu onthe screen such that the user 1 can make a selection by using the remotecontroller 611, while driving, there are cases where it is necessary toperform an operation without having to look at the screen. In such acase, in order to achieve the object of the present invention, it isnecessary to provide a scheme of offering options in a scene where theuser 1 needs options, and continuously providing information without theuser 1 having to make any operation in a scene where the user 1 does nothave to make any operation.

In a distribution system, since there are cases where the user 1 willonly use the system halfway, it is desirable to distribute informationonly in a required amount. In the present invention, information isstored in pieces in the layers of the folder 501 on the informationprovision server 302.

The user 1 is using the contents 511 of one of the layers. Although thecontents 511 not required at this stage are prepared on the informationprovision server 302, they are not downloaded to the informationprovision terminal device 301.

Thereafter, since the information required by the user 1 will changedepending on which sub contents contained in the contents 511 beingreproduced are used, it is desirable that the contents producer 121 onlydownloads the required information in accordance therewith.

The foregoing operation can be realized by creating, for example, thecontents 511 described below.

In an example of a sightseeing guide, for instance, a command may bedirectly designated when receiving information relating to a certaintourist attraction.

Let is be assumed that “sightseeing guide, Kyoto” has been designated.

Since the contents producer 121 does not know what kind of detailedinformation the user 1 wishes to know in advance, the [contents producer121] will create the contents 511 with the following production policy,for instance:

-   1. When designated by prefecture, to create contents that will list    and convey the tourist attractions of the designated prefecture in    the first minute;-   2. When the reproduction of the foregoing contents 511 is started,    to download the first contents 511 summarizing in roughly 1 minute    the respective tourist attractions that were listed;-   3. To start downloading the second contents 511 when the    reproduction of the first contents 511 is started;-   4. To start the reproduction of the second contents 511 when the    reproduction of the first contents 511 is finished;-   5. To download the following contents 511 in a similar manner and    automatically reproduce the same; and-   6. After the reproduction of the contents 511 summarized in 1 minute    is completely finished, to download and automatically reproduce the    detailed contents 511 of 10 minutes for each tourist attraction with    similar procedures.

As a result of creating such contents 511, the user 1 will foremostdesignate “sightseeing guide, Kyoto”, and, after acquiring informationup to a necessary point, the [user 1] will be able to acquireinformation of a necessary level by merely designating other contents511 with a direct designation command such as “music, hit chart” or thelike. In the foregoing contents 511, since only the necessary contents511 are actually distributed, it is possible to prevent unused andunwanted contents 511 from flowing to the network 303 in largequantities.

By combining the scheme of continuous download and the directdesignation within the contents 511, it will be possible to perform anoperation only when one wishes to make such operation to obtainnecessary information. In the example of the foregoing contents, as aresult of reproducing detailed contents for 10 minutes on the touristattraction being reproduced by suing the “detail” command while thetourist attraction list and contents 511 summarized in 1 minute arebeing reproduced, information on only the required tourist attractioncan be obtained.

For example, when a message such as “Cherry blossoms are beautiful thisseason in Arashiyama” is being reproduced, if the “detail” command isused, detailed information on Arashiyama will be downloaded andreproduced.

Although the user 1 may perform only one operation, perform two or moreoperations, or not perform any operation at all during the foregoingprocess, each case can be dealt with the same contents 511.

If the coded data contents 512 (e.g., contents for reading aloud text)are used to create a weather forecast, the foregoing operation can beimplemented even with a line of relatively slow speed. With a network303 having a sufficiently fast communication speed, the foregoingoperation can be implemented even with large-volume contents such asmusic contents or visual contents. Accordingly, it is desirable that thecontents producer 121 appropriate uses the contents 511 in accordancewith the speed of circuit.

In the example of the foregoing contents 511, although the constitutionwas such that the contents 511 are used immediately after the downloadthereof, they may be used later on. An example of this is describedbelow.

In the embodiments of the present invention, although provided is aconstitution where the contents 511 to be downloaded individually aredesignated, by adding a function of sequentially downloading the routecontents 511 for creating a sequential download list, it is possible toomit the trouble of creating the contents.

Next, the operation of the contents 511 editing the play list 514 of thesubsequent contents 511 is explained.

In the present invention, when the contents 511 download the subsequentcontents 511, the play list 514 may be edited.

Foremost, the operation in relation to the selection command isexplained.

In the present invention, the contents producer 121 is able to designatethe operation against the “select” command.

As a result, it will be possible to provide a separate service to theuser 1 while the contents 511 currently being provided is selected.Since the contents producer 121 of the respective contents 511 is ableto select the use of the selection command, the same “select” commandmay be used for various purposes. From the perspective of the user 1,this will lead to the integration of the operational feeling, and, whenoperating the information provision terminal device 301, there is anadvantage in that attention will not be diverted from the main action asmuch.

Since all contents will be the target contents 511 to be selected withthe selection command, the operation of selection will be integrated inall broadcasting, communication and functional services.

In the embodiments of the present invention, designation data of thelowermost layer shall be used when the selection command is selected.

The “select” command, for example, is used as follows.

For instance, it is used when selecting detailed contents 511 from therough contents 511. Contents 511 for explaining the details in the“select” command are reproduced while the contents 511 for explainingthe summary are being reproduced.

The [selection command] is also used as a menu.

Contents 511 for explaining the menu items for reproducing therespective menu items are individually created, and contents 511 tobecome a menu for continuously reproducing the above are created. As aresult of describing in the master designation data 515 the operationupon the selection command being respectively designated in relation tothe contents 511 for explaining the menu items, the contents 511 can beused as the menu.

Further, the [selection command] can be used to designate the functionalcontents 513.

By designating the functional contents 513 with the selection command,the user 1 will be able to use the “select” command to call thefunctional contents 513.

By combining the [selection command] and a menu, it may be used asfollows.

For example, the contents 511 to become the menu regarding the functionof the information provision terminal device 301 are made to bereproducible with “guide, communication log”.

For instance, the following explanation will be provided. “You have twovoice mail messages. The first message is from Mr. Kato. The secondmessage is from Mr. Shimizu. You had one incoming IP phone call from Mr.Fujiwara. You have one incoming fax.”

By using the “select” command at one of the stages, the correspondingfunctional contents 513 will be designated, and the corresponding player453 will be activated.

When a “select” command is made during “You have two voice mailmessages”, the two voice mail messages will be played. When the[selection command] is made during “The first message is from Mr. Kato”and “The second message is from Mr. Shimizu”, respectively, the firstvoice mail message and the second voice mail message will be reproduced.

When the [selection command] is made during “You had one incoming IPphone call from Mr. Fujiwara”, the phone call contents will be selectedand the number will be automatically dialed.

When the [selection command] is made during “You have one incoming fax”,such fax will be displayed on the screen when the vehicle is notrunning, and, if the vehicle is in motion, a message of “Fax cannot bedisplayed while the vehicle is in motion. Fax was sent from xxxxxxxxx”will be provided.

Further, a network event may also be generated.

A message of “Select here to notify the center” is provided to urge theuser 1 to notify the center, and, when selected, the informationprovision terminal device 501 generates a network event, and notifiesthe information provision server 302 that the user 1 made a selection.

Moreover, the [selection command] may be used to renew the same contents511.

With a convention information provision system, there were numerousproblems such as a complex scheme being required to renew the samecontents, requiring the operation of the user to renew the contents, orsending the renewed data to all users.

In the present invention, there is a significant feature in thatprovided is a scheme capable of automatically renewing the same contents511 only for a user 1 requiring such renewal with an extremely simplecreation procedure.

Since it is not desirable to distribute all contents 511 that may not beused, for instance, it is not preferable to consolidate the nationwidetoday's weather forecast, weekly forecast and long-term forecastregarding the weather forecast contents 511 in a single contents file511. Thus, the information provision terminal device 301 downloads thelatest contents 511 every four hours as the information data of thenationwide weather contents summarized in 1 minute to be distributedinitially. Then, a weather forecast summarized in 1 minute within thelast four hours will be immediately reproduced regardless of when theuser 1 uses the [contents].

After the nationwide weather contents are initially downloaded from theinformation provision server 302, this kind of operation will beconducted with the operation of the information provision terminaldevice 301. Accordingly, since the information provision server 302 onlyhas to wait for the download request from the information provisionterminal device 301, the communication protocol will be an extremelysimple constitution.

When the contents producer 121 is to create the contents 511 forperforming such renewal, it will be sufficient merely to describe aninstruction stating that the contents are be renewed every four hours asthe information data of the contents 511. Therefore, automatic renewalcontents can be created extremely easily. Since information such as theweather forecast or traffic information is already being systemized,with respect to the renewal of information also, data created with theexisting weather forecast information creation system or trafficinformation creation system merely has to be copied to the informationprovision terminal device 301.

Download of the subsequent contents 511 can be designated.

When providing detailed weather information based on prefecture with theweather forecast contents, as a general rule, since most users 1 willonly need information for the area that they are in, if all informationis provided to all users 1, much unnecessary information will flow onthe network 303.

This problem can be overcome as follows.

In the information provision terminal device 301 in an initial state,only a short nationwide weather forecast is initially provided in thecontents 511 designated with “weather forecast”. When the “help” commandis used during the reproduction of the nationwide weather, anexplanation is provided to indicate that there is a local weatherforecast and prefectural weather forecast in addition to the nationwideweather forecast, and that these may respectively be designated as“weather forecast, Kanto” or “weather forecast, Kanagawa prefecture”.

As a result of the user 1 designating “weather forecast, Kanagawaprefecture” in the initial state of the terminal, weather forecastcontents of Kanagawa prefecture are newly downloaded to the informationprovision terminal device 301. When a designation for renewing the[contents] every four hours is written in the master designation data515 of the weather forecast contents 511 of the respective areas orprefectures, the information provision terminal device 301 willautomatically renew the [contents] every four hours.

Since the automatic renewal of the weather forecast of Kanagawaprefecture is limited to the information provision terminal device 301of the user who designated “weather forecast, Kanagawa prefecture” atone point or another, it is possible to prevent the weather forecast ofall prefectures being distributed to all information provision terminaldevices 301 on the network 303.

In mobile communication such as an in-car information provision terminaldevice 301, as a result of tunnels or bad reception, it may not bepossible to connect to the network 303 when the user 1 designates“weather forecast, Kanagawa prefecture”. Nevertheless, weather forecastcontents may be provided based on data which has already beendownloaded.

By the subsequent contents 511 being downloaded as described above, theuser 1 will be able to use the [contents] without noticing the scheme,and the contents 511 can be automatically downloaded without having toincrease the operations of the user 1 or divert the attention of theuser 1.

This point differs significantly from a conventional web browser inwhich a weather forecast cannot be viewed unless it is connected to anetwork at that point in time, and this is a feature of the presentinvention.

The response of the user 1 against the contents 511 may be used toactivate the distribution of the contents 511 that will be necessarythereafter.

With the method according to the present invention, after thedistribution of the contents 511 is activated and the distribution ofthe contents 511 is completed, it is not necessarily assumed that the[contents] will be reproduced immediately.

With the method according to the present invention, when thedistribution of the contents 1 which the user 1 showed interest amongthe contents 511 is activated and the download thereof is complete, as aresult of changing the play list 514 of separate contents 511 such thatreferral will be made from separate contents 511 differing from theoriginal contents 511, and completing the distribution of the contents511 in advance prior to the user 1 requiring such information to users 1who are likely to need such information, information being sought can beimmediately provided when the users 1 need such information. Thisoperation is a characteristic operation of the present invention.

For example, when the contents 511 is a weekly hit chart, it will besufficient to provide information and a part of the music to persons whoare interested in the songs and artists ranked 1 to 10 in the weekly hitchart.

When the user 1 does not use the “select” command, the songs, artistsand a part of the music ranked 1 to 10 are introduced, the reproductionof the contents 511 is ended, and the subsequent contents 511 arereproduced.

When the user 1 uses the “select” command at rank 2 of the hit chart, itis evident that such user 1 is interested in that artist or song. Thecontents producer 121 will provide information that can beinstantaneously distributed regarding such artist and song, furtherprepare and download detailed contents 511, and, for example, writessuch [contents 511] in the master designation data 515 so as to be addedto the play list 514 of the contents designated with “guide interest”.

As a result of creating such contents 511, when the user 1 uses the“select” command at the song of ranked No. 2, information regarding suchNo. 2 song instantaneously distributed is reproduced, and thereproduction of the contents 511 at such time is finished.

When the “guide interest” command is used, the [user] will be able tolisten to detailed information regarding the No. 2 song. Further, whenthe user 1 selects a song and is downloaded in the contents 511designated with “music pops”, such song will be downloaded into theinformation provision terminal device 301 of the user 1 who selectedsuch song.

Handling of the contents 511 not included in the play list 514 is nowexplained.

In the present invention, the play list 514 plays an important role inaddition to designating the reproduction order of the contents 511.

The operation of the play list 514 described below is an importantfeature of the present invention.

When there is a play list 514, only the contents 511 described in theplay list 514 are reproduced, and the contents 511 not described in theplay list 514 are not reproduced.

When there is no play list 514, reproduction may be conducted in aprescribed order such as in the order of time the [contents] werecreated.

By utilizing the fact that the contents 511 not described in the playlist 514 are not reproduced, it is possible to make the informationprovision terminal device 301 execute the following operations:

-   1. Distribute in advance the contents 511 that will not be used    immediately;-   2. Replace the reproducible contents 511 without newly downloading    the same;-   3. Disable the use of the contents 511 that were being used; and-   4. Enable the use of the contents 511 that could not be used.

Since the play list 514 may be newly created, amended or deleted withthe master control unit 451, the content of the play list 514 can berewritten using an event during the reproduction of the contents 511.

As a result of using this function, it will be possible to realize thefollowing:

-   1. The contents 511 distributed in a state where only one song is to    be reproduced initially become the contents 511 to reproduce ten    songs thereafter;-   2. Although contents data of ten songs are included and distributed,    no song is reproduced until some kind of event is generated;-   3. The contents 511 in which only the beginning of the song (intro)    is reproduced for ten seconds initially eventually enable the    reproduction of the entire song;

The contents 511 to be reproduced are replaced with the operation of theuser 1; and

-   5. The contents 511 to be reproduced are replaced with a network    event.

Since these acts may be conducted without having to delete thedistributed contents 511, such acts can be utilized extremelyeffectively for administering the contents after distribution.

Incidentally, in the embodiments of the present invention, givingconsideration to the convenience of operation by the contents producer121, provided is constitution of automatically and sequentiallyreproducing the [contents] when there is no play list 514. By providinga constitution of automatically creating the play list 514 in thecontents registration terminal device 1101, it is also possible toemploy a constitution of not reproducing the [contents] when there is noplay list 514 in the information provision terminal device 301.

A repeat command may also be realized.

By adding a repeat command to the command in the constitution, it ispossible to improve the operability when using the menu.

When the user forgets to use the selection command while it is operatingas the menu, the contents 511 as the menu will advance forward, and itis therefore necessary to return to the original position and designatethe contents 511 once again in the menu.

In the foregoing case, if the contents 511 being reproduced with therepeat command can be reproduced once again, the user can use the“repeat” command to listen to the menu from the beginning and make aselection with the “select” command.

Further, a check command may also be realized.

When the selection command is used, since the operation corresponding tothe selection at such point in time is started, the user 1 will notlisten thereafter. Thus, the operation will become somewhat complex whendesignating a plurality of [contents].

In usage requiring numerous options enabling a plurality of selections,the user 1 will be able to select a plurality of items during thereproduction of the contents 511 as the menu by employing a constitutionof adding a “check” command to the command for making a plurality ofdesignations.

The degree of freedom of distributing the contents 511 is now explained.

With the contents distribution method according to the presentinvention, the distribution of contents 511 may be conducted immediatelyafter the user 1 having performing an operation causing the distributionof contents, or a little while thereafter, or suitably in accordancewith the load of the information provision server 302 and network 303.The timing may be freely determined in accordance with the content ofapplication of the contents producer 121.

As a result of the foregoing operation, the information distributionsystem pertaining to the present invention can also be applied to theapplication to be immediately downloaded after the operation by the user1, and to the application to be downloaded later.

The scheme of the contents 511 downloading the subsequent contents 511based on the check command and editing the play list 514 is nowexplained with reference to FIG. 51 to FIG. 53.

The information provision terminal device 301 downloads from theinformation provision server 302 the contents 511-1-1 to 511-1-ncomposed of the initial ten seconds, and the play list 514-1representing the ordinal reproduction of contents 511-1-1 to 511-1-n,and reproduces contents 511-1-1 to 511-1-n in order based on the playlist 514.

When one of the contents 511-1-1 to 511-1-n is being reproduced and acheck command is input, the information provision terminal device 301determines the contents 511 to be subsequently downloaded based thereon.

For example, when contents 511-1-2, contents 511-1-5, contents 511-1-7or contents 511-1-10 are being reproduced and a check command is input,the information provision terminal device 301 downloads from theinformation provision server 302 contents 511-2-2, contents 511-2-5,contents 511-2-7 and contents 511-2-10 among the summarized contents511-2-1 to 511-2-m, and generates a play list 514-2 representing thereproduction of the contents 511-2-2, contents 511-2-5, contents 511-2-7and contents 511-2-10. The information provision terminal device 301,based on the play list 514-2, reproduces contents 511-2-2, contents511-2-5, contents 511-2-7 and contents 511-2-10 in order.

When one of the contents 511-2-2, contents 511-2-5, contents 511-2-7 andcontents 511-2-10 are reproduced and a check command is input, theinformation provision terminal device 301 determines the contents 511 tobe subsequently downloaded based thereon.

For example, when the contents 511-2-7 are reproduced and a checkcommand is input, the information provision terminal device 301downloads from the information provision server 302 contents 511-3-7among the summarized contents 511-3-1 to 511-3-k, and generates a playlist 514-3 representing the reproduction of contents 511-3-7.

The information provision terminal device 301 reproduces contents511-3-7 based on the play list 514-3.

As described above, the information provision terminal device 301 isable to generate a play list 514, and output the contents 511 based onthe generated play list.

Notification is now explained.

According to the present invention, notification is made with thecontents 511 for notification created by the contents producer 121 usingan event.

As a result of employing the foregoing constitution, notification willnot be fixed, and may be created freely as the contents 511, and thecontents producer 121 is able to employ a presentation for making aneffective notification.

A phone call within the distribution contents is now explained.

As a result of using the phone call contents of the functional contents513, a service enabling a phone call from the distributed contents canbe realized.

Specifically, as a result of the contents producer 121 creating thecontents 511 as described below, a phone call may be made within thecontents 511.

While providing a guide message such as, “Please designate the method ofcommunication. You can choose the method of communication from thefollowing. Fill out an application at the store. Call and apply over thephone.”, when a “select” command is selected at “Call and apply over thephone”, a call will be made according to the information described inthe contents 511.

Voice mail or photo mail is now explained.

Voice mail and photo mail can be easily realized with the method of thepresent invention. Examples are provided below.

A contents folder classified by user is created in one of the layers inthe information provision server 302, a mail folder is createdthereunder, and a mail menu contents is created thereunder such thateach email can be referred to from the mail menu contents.

Mail menu contents can be created easily and automatically. Regardingvoice mail, transmitted data can be used without change as the contents.

As a result of enabling the creation of voice mail and photo mail as thefunctional contents 513 in the information provision terminal device301, voice mail and photo mail can be exchanged among informationprovision terminal devices 301.

In the present invention, since the voice mail and photo mail are alsoconstituted to be contents, these may be used as contents within othercontents. Thus, an effect is yielded in that the contents producer 121is able to have the voice mail and photo mail transmitted within thecontents.

Since the data of voice mail and photo mail acquired with such contentscan be used without change as contents, these may be used as a part ofthe contents to be provided to a different user.

As a result of associating and creating contents, the informationprovision terminal device 301 may be used as the generation means forgenerating the contents 511.

If these contents may be designated with a command of “email”, suchcontents can be handled as with the other contents 511.

Reception of text mail is now explained.

In the information provision server 302, contents for receiving textmail can be created as with constitution of the voice mail.

By providing a distribution system having added thereto a text mailreception means for converting the email transmitter information andtitle and main text into a vocalizable format and storing this in theuser's text mail folder from the server for receiving ordinary textmail, email from the Internet can be converted into the contents 511 ofthe present invention.

If these contents may be designated with a command of “text mail”, suchcontents can be handled as with the other contents 511.

Status of the contents 511 is now explained.

It is desirable to create contents 511 for explaining to the user 1 whatkind of contents 511 are contained in the information provision terminaldevice 301.

These contents 511 can be easily realized as a result of performing anoperation of including contents 511 for explaining the subject matter ineach of the distributed contents 511 when distributing such contents511, and adding such contents 511 upon downloading the main contents.

Administration of the contents is now explained.

The administration of contents is conducted based on the masterdesignation data 515 contained in the contents 511 downloaded in theinformation provision terminal device 301.

The timing of deleting the contents 511 within the information provisionterminal device 301 or from the play list 514 is designated with themaster designation data 515.

Although the user 1 is able to delete the unnecessary contents 511 witha command, unless the contents producer 121 provides a service ofenabling the copy of some type of contents 511, the [contents 511] cannot be copied to another information provision terminal device 301.

With these functions, the contents producer 121 is able to dynamicallyadminister the contents 511.

These functions may also be utilized for the sale or lease of thecontents 511 or copyright management.

For example, with the contents 511 to be leased for only one month, itwill suffice to write an instruction of deleting such contents after onemonth in the master designation data 515, and this can be realizedextremely easily.

Use of a network event is now explained.

As a result of providing a constitution where the information provisionserver 302 is connected to the Internet, which is an example of thenetwork 303, and accepting and forwarding the network event from theInternet, the network event may be transmitted from anywhere on theInternet.

As a result of employing the foregoing constitution, when a networkevent arrives at the information provision server 302 from a certainlocation connected to the Internet, such [network event] can be providedfrom the information provision terminal device 301 by using the contents511 for explaining the subject matter thereof.

For example, contents 511 for notifying trouble in the home, office orshop can be easily created.

Use of the sensor event is now explained.

Contents 511 can be automatically created with a sensor event as aresult of creating contents 511 for explaining to the user the subjectmatter of an event generated by the sensor 481.

Failure diagnosis is now explained.

For instance, in the example of the vehicle 311, a network communicationfunction such as a CAN (Controller Area Network) for providing vehicleinformation is installed in recent vehicles, and, since this is oftenequipped with terminals, a failure diagnosis sensor is connectedthereto, and connection is made with the sensor connection unit 465 ofthe information provision terminal device 301.

By providing a constitution of outputting the result in a formatvocalizable by text when a failure diagnosis sensor discovers amalfunction, information input from the sensor connection means of theinformation provision terminal device 301 is stored in the contentsfolder designated, for example, with “failure diagnosis”, and a sensorevent is generated thereby. As a result of employing the foregoingconstitution, when the vehicle 311 malfunctions, [failure diagnosis] isnotified to the user as notification contents.

In the present invention, since the information provision sources areintegrated, the user 1 only has to pay attention to one informationsource, and will be able to reliably receive the malfunction noticewithout having to diver one's attention from the main actionsignificantly.

Further, in these contents, if the content and dealing method of themalfunction and contact information can be notified with the “explain”command, the user 1 will be able to deal with the trouble by performingstandard terminal operations. Since the [user 1] will not have to read amanual when encountering trouble and be able to engage in standardoperations, attention will not be diverted from the main actionsignificantly.

Further, when the “select” command is used during the guidance of thecontact information using the phone call contents of the functionalcontents 513, a service enabling communication with the point of contactcan be provided easily.

Use of a speed sensor is now explained.

The speed of the vehicle 311 can be detected with a sensor such as aspeed pulse or acceleration sensor or GPS. As a result of connecting theforegoing sensor 481 via the sensor connection unit 465, the informationprovision terminal device 301 will be able to realize a contents serviceaccording to the speed of the vehicle 311.

Use of the sensor 481 and the actuator 491 of the external equipment 433is now explained.

By providing a constitution of adding a CCD camera 616 as the cameraimage input means to the environment information detection unit 432, forexample, the acceleration sensor 612 and sound pressure sensor 613 arecombined to detect accidents or trouble, the image information obtainedfrom the CCD camera 616 is stored as contents 511 reproducible by theuser 1 in the contents memory unit 388, and image recorded according tothe operation of the user 1 is provided thereby.

Download of the contents 511 in a hot spot is now explained.

According to the method of the present invention, when the constitutionis such that the portable phone carrier packet communication service andwireless LAN hot spot are combined, contents to be provided in real timecan be handled with the portable phone carrier packet communicationnetwork, and large-volume contents can be handled with the wireless LANhot spot.

Examples of handling the foregoing contents are provided below.

-   1. Contents 511 for downloading large-volume contents are created in    advance, and distributed to the information provision terminal    device 301 at a certain timing;-   2. When the contents 511 are distributed, contents 511 distributed    to the play list 514 of the contents to be used upon employing the    hot spot are added; and-   3. When the contents 511 to be used by the user 1 upon employing the    hot spot are to be reproduced, large-volume contents 511 are    automatically downloaded.

By creating the foregoing contents 511, the addition of a newconstitution will not be particularly required other than the wirelessLAN communication function.

Or, an open line event may be used to reproduce the contents 511 to benotified to the user 1 when entering the hot spot, the selection ofcontents 511 to be downloaded may be sought upon presenting the optionsamong such contents 511, and the contents 511 selected by the user 1 maybe downloaded thereby.

Off-line operation is now explained.

In the present invention, when the user is to start using theinformation provision terminal device 301 regarding of the timingthereof, the contents to be initially designated and used have alreadybeen distributed, and are available for immediate use. Further, inaccordance with the previous operation of the user 1, relatedinformation is in a state of having been distributed, and stored in theterminal.

Therefore, contents 511 that have already been stored in the informationprovision terminal device 301 may be used normally in a state of notbeing connected to the network 303.

In addition, the user's operation is entirely the same for an off-lineoperation.

Operation not requiring a download operation is enabled.

Accordingly, an extremely functional feature of the user not having toengage in an operation for downloading the contents 511 is yielded. Thispoint differs from various Internet services.

Operation during a bad reception is now explained.

Upon using an open line event, when the user 1 is using the informationprovision terminal device 301 in a communicable state, for example, whenthe in-car information provision terminal device 301 enters anunderground parking or tunnel and is no longer communicable, operationof the contents 511 may be changed to deal with the change of status.Contrarily, when it becomes communicable, the contents 511 also becreated to switch to the reproduction of the original contents 511 orbeing the download thereof.

This is a significant feature of the present invention.

For example, in a terminal or service provided via an open line such aswith FM broadcasts or TV broadcasts, portable phones or emails and webbrowsers, the service is suspended when communication is disabled, and,unless the user performs some kind of operation, the service of theterminal is suspended.

According to the present invention, when the contents producer 121 is nolonger able to communicate, it is possible to continue providing theservice by ending the contents 511 and reproducing the subsequentcontents 511, or switching to the contents 511 prepared in advance. Thecontinuity of such service is a significant feature of the presentinvention.

Next, the contents registration terminal device 1101 is explained.

The contents registration terminal device 1101 can be of a simpleconstitution. Since the description of the contents 511 is notcomplicated, as the operation of the contents registration terminaldevice 1101, it will suffice to have a function of writing informationfor designating and registering the folder 501.

Accordingly, the contents registration terminal device 1101 may have anextremely simple structure only having a folder designation function,provided information file designation function and provided informationacquisition function.

The contents registration terminal device 1101 may be installed at thesame location as the information provision terminal device 301, but itis not a requisite to install it at the same location, and it may beinstalled at a different location.

Since the contents registration terminal device 1101 only needs to beconnected to the information provision server 302 via the network 303,as a result of connecting the information provision server 302 andcontents registration terminal device 1101 to the Internet, which is anexample of the network 303, contents information provided from aroundthe globe can be provided in an integrated and organized manner to theuser 1 who is subject to numerous constrained conditions such as whiledriving a vehicle.

Support function of the contents producer 121 is now explained.

By providing a constitution of adding the following contents producer121 support function to the contents registration terminal device 1101,such operations can also be conducted automatically:

-   1. Automatic acquisition function of renewed contents;-   2. Automatic input function of contents management information; and-   3. Automatic collection function of contents.

In the present invention, since the distribution of contents 511 isconstituted such that all data of the designated folder 501 and belowmerely needs to be copied, the support function of the contents producer121 can be realized easily.

Automatic contents generation terminal device is now explained.

For example, a device for outputting contents such as a network camerafor outputting visual data may be employed as the automatic contentsgeneration terminal device in the information provision systempertaining to the present invention.

Network event generation terminal device will now be explained.

In the present invention, since the contents 511 required by the user 1are distributed in advance and the processing of the contents event isperformed with the information provision terminal device 301, the systemstructure on the distributing side upon distributing information can beconstituted to be extremely simple.

Since many of the conventional distribution systems are constituted toprocess the event generated outside the terminal for providinginformation to the user with the system on the distributing side, anextremely enormous system for performing event per type of event or perpurpose of use of the user will be required in order to create a systemcapable of consolidating various types of information as in the presentinvention.

For example, in the display of a telop of earthquake information in a TVbroadcast, when text data generated as an event is to be displayedoverlappingly on the TV screen as earthquake information, telop issuperposed on the program image on air in an easy-to-read format, and,in addition, since the broadcast is conducted at each TV station, it isnecessary to perform event processing at each TV station. This alsoapplies to radio stations.

The foregoing problem is more serious with the service provided via theInternet web browser, and, in a state where the user is acquiringinformation only from the web browser, it will not be possible toreliably provide information to the user unless all pages on theInternet display emergency information.

According to the present invention, since a part of the contentsrelating to the item which the user is showing interest is distributedto the information provision terminal device 301 according to the user'soperation, the foregoing problem can be overcome with a simplepreparatory operation of describing the processing of the correspondingevent in the master designation data 515 of the distributed contents.This is a significant feature of the present invention.

In the present invention, as a result of arranging the network eventgeneration terminal device described below, it is possible to generate anetwork event from any network device that can be connected via anetwork to the Internet and information provision server 302 andinformation provision terminal device 301.

By providing a constitution of adding a network event generationterminal device connectable to the Internet, the contents producer 121will be able to utilize an event generated at any location connectableto the Internet in the contents 511.

For example, by installing a network event generation terminal device atthe desk of the chief editor of the contents 511, and, upon confirmingthe renewal of the contents, outputting a network event used in thetarget contents that were confirmed, event is sent to the informationprovision terminal device 301 receiving the distribution of suchcontents when the chief editor operates the network event generationterminal device, and information that was just renewed may bedownloaded.

Or, by enabling the detection of trouble or some kind of event with thesensor 481, and creating contents 511 that will reproduce notificationcontents when such event is generated, the terminated receiving thedistribution of such contents may notify the user when such event isgenerated.

The portable information provision terminal device 301 is now explained.

The portable information provision terminal device 301 may employ theconstitution illustrated in FIG. 29.

Operation of the portable information provision terminal device 301 isnow explained.

In order to operate the information provision terminal device 301 whiledriving the vehicle 311, although a voice command was most suitablesince the vehicle 311 is a private space, a terminal to be carried andused by a person will often be used in public places, there will becases where a voice command cannot be used. Thus, the constitutionenables to operation to be conducted via both voice command and buttonoperation.

Buttons on the remote controller 611 or the buttons on the housing maybe used to perform the operation of the following constitution.

-   Reproduction control by the player 453: Next, back, play/pause-   Operational log control: Return, next-   Contents control: Up, down, right, left, select

It is desirable that the buttons of the remote controller 611 or housingare capable of performing operations relating to the following systemcontrol.

System control: Power ON/OFF, high volume, low volume, raise screenbrightness, lower screen brightness, raise screen contrast, lower screencontrast As a result of employing the foregoing constitution, as aresult of performing operation with a voice command in an environmentwhere it is possible to speak, and performing operation with buttonoperations in an environment where it is not possible to speak, theservice of the information provision system pertaining to the presentinvention may be used.

By providing a constitution of adding a menu operation button describedlater, operation can be simplified.

The constitution may also add the operation of “return to top ofcontents” and “advance to end of contents” to the reproduction controlof the player 453.

When the operation of up, down, right and left is not required in thecontents 511, the constitution may omit the up, down, right and leftbuttons.

The selection button may be constituted to double with other buttons, ora plurality of buttons may be combined.

The direct designation operation of the portable information provisionterminal device 301 is now explained.

In the voice command, although it is possible to directly designate thecontents with a command map of dynamic command map, a direct designationoperation can not be performed with only a button operation.

Thus, by adopting the following constitution, a direct designationoperation can be enabled with only a button operation. According to thisconstitution, even in a in-car information provision terminal device 301which is mainly operated by a voice command, an effect is yielded inthat [user] does not have to remember the direct operational command.

Incidentally, the constitution may combine the respective methods.

As the first method, when an operation is made to return to the initialcontents, the menu contents of the overall contents are reproduced, andcontents capable of being subject to direct designation operation arelisted based on the subject matter of the menu contents so as to enablea selectable operation.

As the second method, a menu button is added to the constitution, themenu contents of the overall contents are reproduced when the menubutton is pushed, and contents capable of being subject to directdesignation operation are listed based on the subject matter of the menucontents so as to enable a selectable operation.

As the third method, when the operation of up, down, right and left isnot required in the contents, the direct designation operation can berealized even with the method of selecting the menu with the up, down,right and left buttons.

When a screen can be used, items selected as options may be displayed onthe screen.

When a screen cannot be used, a direct designation operation via abutton operation can be realized, even when the service is received withaudio only such as via headphones, by outputting sounds or an audioguide representing the selected menu items for each button operation soas to notify the user.

The service provided by the portable information provision terminaldevice 301 is now explained.

As a result of employing the foregoing constitution, a small portableinformation provision terminal device 301 will be able to provide thesame services as the in-car information provision terminal device 301.

In other words, in addition to services for distributing music contentsand DJ programs, and effect is yielded in that the following servicescan also be provided with a single device.

-   Travel guide contents may be operated before the trip to extract    tourist attractions of one's interest and view the guide, realize a    state of the guide (automatically) stored in the terminal to view    the guide accumulated in the information provision terminal device    301 with minimal button operations at the destination of one's trip;-   Restaurants may be searched while outside with the restaurant guide    contents, a call will be automatically made to the restaurant    thereafter for discussing the details and making a reservation;-   Voice messages and visual images can be conveyed to the other party,    emails can be read or listened to;-   A positional event is generated in the route, information provision    terminal device 301 when arriving at a certain location, and    contents for guiding the way to the destination can be realized    pursuant thereto;-   An address book can be read out with the voice command of “address    book” while walking, and a call can be made to the other party by    being designated with the operation of the address book; and-   For example, when the information provision terminal device 301 is    being used as business maintenance terminal device, this device may    be used with button operations where the noise level is high, and    with a voice command where the noise level is low.

As described in the foregoing example, in an environment where the user1 is able to use a voice command, operation may be made via a voicecommand, and the operation may be succeeded with a button operationwithout change when the situation changes.

If the user 1 does not operate the information provision terminal device301, as with the case of the in-car information provision terminaldevice 301, reproduction of the contents 511 is automatically continuedaccording to the operation of the user 1. Accordingly, the user 1 willbe able to focus on the main action on a case-by-case basis, and theobject of the present invention can be achieved thereby.

An embodiment of the information provision terminal device 301 forhumans is now explained.

There are many cases where a person will place the information provisionterminal device 301 on one's desk or carry it around, and be engaged inanother main action other than acquiring information when using suchdevice.

When the information provision terminal device 301 of this embodiment iscarried into the vehicle 311, a highly versatile information provisionservice can be realized by providing information according to thesituation inside the vehicle.

An embodiment of switching a plurality of master control units 451 isnow explained.

The constitution may also install and switch a plurality of mastercontrol units 451.

As a result of installing a plurality of master control units 451, aplurality of pointer stacks 457 can be managed simultaneously.

Thus, it will be possible to simultaneously store the state of theplurality of contents 511 during reproduction. This will yield thefollowing advantages:

-   Contents 511 can be instantaneously switched and used; and-   The operational log prior to the contents 511 being switched will be    recorded separately for the respective contents 511, and will be    easy to understand.

The method of switching the plurality of master control unit 451, forexample, is effective in the following cases:

-   When music contents, news contents and sightseeing guide contents    are being used at the same time and in parallel; and-   When the plurality of users 1 use the same information provision    terminal device 301 at different times.

An example of supplementing the human interface unit 431 with theauxiliary information provision device is now explained.

In many cases, since a person engages in activities using their eyes, itis strongly desirable to limit the information that cannot be obtainedvisually to cases that will not cause any hindrance even when the lineof sight is averted.

When the [user] is focusing on the main action, there are cases wheresuch [user] will not recognize the information provided from theinformation provision terminal device 301. In order to reliably provideinformation in the foregoing case, a method of supplementing the mainhuman interface unit 431 with and auxiliary information provision deviceis described below.

For example, since the driver driving the vehicle, which is a car, isfocusing on the driving operation, there may be cases where such[driver] will not recognize the information being provided form theinformation provision terminal device 301 installed inside the vehicle.

In such a case, information can be provided more reliably by sending anotification that can be confirmed while focusing on the road ahead, ordirecting the [driver's] attention to the information from theinformation provision terminal device 301.

According to the present invention, the foregoing methods can be easilyrealized since the contents are able to transmit and receive events.

According to the present invention, the contents producer 121 is able tomake an effective notification according to the productive idea of thecontents 511.

An example of utilizing the auxiliary information provision device inordinary contents is shown below.

If the user is continuously reproducing other contents when the subjectmatter of the contents is renewed, the user will not recognize therenewal if no notification is made. For example, when an emergencynotification is to be made when the user is listening to music contents,for instance, such notification may be made by interrupting the [musiccontents]. Nevertheless, if information such as “New move guide hasarrived”, which is not urgent, is notified for each renewal, this willbecome troublesome and may even divert the user's attention from themain action.

It is desirable that the auxiliary information provision device enablesthe confirmation of information while the user is engaged in anactivity, without the user having to divert one's attentionsignificantly.

For example, the auxiliary information provision device is set up in aposition that is easily viewable while the [driver] is watching the roadahead from the driver's seat.

In the foregoing case, by employing a scheme of an event betweencontents, it will be possible to control the auxiliary informationprovision device from the contents.

The contents for providing the auxiliary information provision devicewill be provided as contents independent and separate from the audiocontents as the main human interface unit 431.

For example, the auxiliary information provision device has thefollowing states:

-   1. There is no information to be notified;-   2. Distribution of contents is being received;-   3. Contents were renewed; and-   4. There is important information.

The auxiliary information provision device is able to represent suchstates with the color of LED, or changes in the flashing pattern.

The following methods may be employed to perform a more effectivepresentation.

It would be effective if the auxiliary information provision deviceappealing directly to the visual sense with a mechanical movementinstead of sounds or images.

For example, the auxiliary information provision device can be formedinto something capable of changing expressions such as a dog-shapedrobot. As a result of associating the foregoing states as follows, theuser will be able to instantaneously comprehend the situation be merelythrowing a glance when the user is at ease while driving the vehicle.

Or, when the display (meters and the like) is not used while the vehicleis in motion, such display panel may be used as the auxiliaryinformation provision device. Specifically, switching a display patternon the screen which can be visually recognized from the corner of one'seyes without having to pay close attention to it, or a 3D image of adog-shaped robot may be displayed.

In the present invention, since a function for the distributed contentsgenerating an event in the information provision terminal device 301,function for receiving an event generated by other contents, and anactuator connection unit 466 for the information provision terminaldevice 301 to control external equipment 435 are provided, the contentsproducer 121 is able to provide the foregoing presentations.

In the present embodiment, the auxiliary information provision device isinstalled inside a vehicle. Nevertheless, the auxiliary informationprovision device may also be installed on the road or in a facility.

For example, in the case of providing information from the facilityadministrator to the vehicle running within a facility such as parkinglot or amusement park, there may be cases where the attention of theuser 1 will be diverted toward the facility, and such [user 1] may notrecognize the information provided from the in-car information provisionterminal device 301. In such a case, the user can be reminded thatinformation to be notified is in the in-car information provisionterminal device 301 by indicating a flashing display on the largedisplay panel established on the roadside or on the path within thefacility.

Or, information for informing the authorization of entrance with theopening or closing of the gate or lock may also be provided effectively.

For example, when an explanation is to be made to the user prior to suchuser entering an amusement park or a facility, by distributing theexplanation contents to the portable information provision terminaldevice 301 in advance, and opening the automatic door, which is thegate, only after the user 1 has finished listening to such explanation,a presentation of providing information explaining that the user mayautomatically enter the premise after fully listening to the explanationcan be realized. Further, a presentation of notifying the user that thedoor will open after the user listens to the explanation guide may berealized when the user tries to open the door manually before listeningto the explanation contents.

Constitution of the folder 501 and download of the contents 511 are nowexplained in further detail.

FIG. 54 is a diagram for explaining the basic constitution of the folder501. As shown on the left side of FIG. 54, for example, logically storedin folder 501-1 are necessary contents 511, necessary play list 514,necessary master designation data 515, and folder 501-2 of the child offolder 501-1 and which is a subordinate layer of folder 501.

As shown on the right side of FIG. 54, the folder 501 has a hierarchicalstructure. For example, the latest information folder 501-2 ispositioned as the child of the route folder 501-1. A news folder 501-3is positioned as the child of the latest information folder 501-2.Arranged as the child of the news folder 501-3 are, for instance, anindex folder 501-4, a general folder 501-5 and social folder 501-6.

FIG. 55 is a diagram showing an example of the folder 501 having ahierarchical structure. The hierarchical structure of the folder 501,for example, may be of a tree structure.

FIG. 56 is a diagram showing and example of the master designation data515. The dynamic command map data 812 may also adopt the sameconstitution.

In this example, since the command is only for moving, the descriptionthereof is omitted.

In the example shown in FIG. 56, the words indicated in the vertical rowon the left side represent events (commands). In the example shown inFIG. 56, the character string indicated in the horizontal row on theright side represents the destination folder 501.

For example, when the event of “guide” is input with the masterdesignation data 515 shown in FIG. 56, the [routine] moves to the folder501 represented with route: guide: main (aggregate of contents 511stored in the destination folder 501 is reproduced). When the event of“weather forecast, Tokyo” is input with the master designation data 515shown in FIG. 56, the [routine] moves to the folder 501 represented withroute: latest information: weather forecast: Tokyo: main.

FIG. 57 is a diagram showing an example of the folder 501, play list514, contents 511, and master designation data 515 stored in thecontents memory unit 388 upon activating the information provisionterminal device 301.

In the example shown in FIG. 57, stored in the contents memory unit 388are a route folder 501-1, as well as an index folder 501-2, guide folder501-3, latest information folder 501-4, life folder 501-5, businessfolder 501-6 and tool folder 501-7, which are children of the routefolder 501-1. And, stored in the index folder 501-2 are a play list514-1, initial contents 511-1 and master designation data 515-1.

When the information provision terminal device 301 is activated, sincedata stored in the initial pointer memory unit 458 has designated theindex folder 501-2, the master control unit 451 makes the play listreader 452 read the play list 514-1. The play list 514-1 is instructedto reproduce the initial contents 511-1.

Described in the master designation data 515-1 is, for example,instructions to download the guide folder 501-3 of the route folder501-1 when a reproduction start event of the initial contents 511-1 isgenerated, and, after the download is completed, to reproduce the guidefolder 501-3 of the route folder 501-1.

The initial contents 511-1 are, for example, data for outputting amessage such as “Thank for joining AAA service. Your informationprovision terminal service will now begin. Please wait until requiredinformation is downloaded from the server. Please read the terminaloperation guide after the download is complete.”

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 58, the information provision terminaldevice 301 automatically downloads contents of the guide folder 501-3form the information provision server 302 upon the user 1 activating theinformation provision terminal device 301.

In other words, when a reproduction start event of the initial contents511-1 is generated based on the control of the master designation data515-1, the information provision terminal device 301 downloads the guidefolder 501-3 of the route folder 501-1 from the information provisionserver 302, and, after the download is complete, reproduces the guidefolder 501-3 of the route folder 501-1.

Therefore, after the download of the guide folder 501-3 of the routefolder 501-1 is complete, stored in the guide folder 501-3 of thecontents memory unit 388 are the play list 514-2, contents 511-2 as thecontents guide 1, contents 511-3 as the latest guide, contents 511-4 asthe life guide, contents 511-5 as the job guide, contents 511-6 as thetool guide, master designation data 515-2, and main folder 501-8 whichis the child of the guide folder 501-3.

When the download of the guide folder 501-3 is complete, the mastercontrol unit 451 designates the play list reader 452 to reproduce theguide folder 501-3 of the route folder 501-1.

When there is a description in the play list 514-2 to reproduce thecontents 511-2 as the contents guide 1, contents 511-3 as the latestguide, contents 511-4 as the life guide, contents 511-5 as the jobguide, and contents 511-6 as the tool guide in order, the play listreader makes the player 453 reproduce the contents 511-2 as the contentsguide 1, contents 511-3 as the latest guide, contents 511-4 as the lifeguide, contents 511-5 as the job guide, and contents 511-6 as the toolguide in order based on the description in the play list 514-2.

For example, the contents 511-2 as the contents guide 1 are data foroutputting a voice message such as, “Welcome to contents guide. You cancheck out guides to latest information, life, job and tool contents.Enter the voice command “select” to open guide”. The contents 511-3 thatis a latest guide are data for example for outputting a voice messagesuch as “Latest information on news, weather forecast and trafficinformation will be provided”

For example, contents 511-4 as the life guide are data for outputting amessage such as, “Life information will provide information onentertainment, shopping and restaurants.” For example, contents 511-5 asthe job guide are data for outputting a message such as, “Jobinformation will provide information on . . . ”

For example, contents 511-6 as the tool guide are data for outputting amessage such as, “Tool guide will show how to use the functions of theterminal.”

Accordingly, for instance, output from the voice output unit 472 areaudio messages such as, “Welcome to contents guide. You can check outguides to latest information, life, job and tool contents. Enter thevoice command “select” to open guide”; “Latest information on news,weather forecast and traffic information will be provided”; “Lifeinformation will provide information on entertainment, shopping andrestaurants”; “Job information will provide information on . . . ”; and“Tool guide will show how to use the functions of the terminal”.

Further, after the contents 511-6 as the tool guide are output, it ispossible to output the contents as the command guide.

There is a description in the master designation data 515-2 to downloadand reproduce the command 511 of the latest information folder 5014 whenthe latest guide contents 511-3 are being output and the selectioncommand is input; to download and reproduce the contents 511 of the lifeinformation folder 501-5 when the life guide contents 511-4 are beingoutput and the selection command is input; to download and reproduce thecontents of the business information folder 501-6 when the job guidecontents 511-5 are being output and the selection command is input; andto download and reproduce the contents 511 of the tool folder 501-7 whenthe tool contents 511-7 are being output and the selection command isbeen input.

Accordingly, from the description in the master designation data 515-2,the master control unit 451 designates the download of the command 511of the latest information folder 501-4 when the latest guide contents511-3 are being output and the selection command is input, anddesignates the reproduction thereof when the download is complete;designates the download of the contents 511 of the life informationfolder 501-5 when the life guide contents 511-4 are being output and theselection command is input, and designates the reproduction thereof whenthe download is complete; designates the download of the contents of thebusiness information folder 501-6 when the job guide contents 511-5 arebeing output and the selection command is input, designates thereproduction thereon when the download is complete; and designates thedownload of the contents 511 of the tool folder 501-7 when the toolcontents 511-7 are being output and the selection command is been input,and designates the reproduction thereof when the download is complete.

Accordingly, when the latest guide contents 511-3 are being output andthe selection command is input, as shown in FIG. 60, the play list514-3, latest information guide contents 511-7 and master designationdata 515-3 stored in the index folder 501-9, which is the child of thelatest information folder 501-4, are supplied from the informationprovision server 302 to the information provision terminal device 301.

The index folder 501-9 storing the play list 514-3, latest informationguide contents 511-7 and master designation data 515-3 is stored in thelatest information folder 501-4 of the contents memory unit 388.

The latest information guide contents 511-7, for example, makes theplayer 453 output a message such as, “Welcome to the latest informationguide. Latest information on news, weather forecast and trafficinformation will be provided. News and weather forecast areautomatically updated 6 times per day. Traffic information is renewedevery 15 minutes between 6:00 and 21:00, and renewed every 60 minutesduring the remaining hours. You can select each guide with the voicecommand of “news”, “weather forecast” or “traffic information”. Pleaseenter the voice command of “latest information guide” to return to thislatest information guide.”

It is described in the master designation data 515-3 to download theindex folder of news, weather forecast and traffic information, forexample, when a start event of the latest information guide isgenerated.

Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 61, from the description in the masterdesignation data 515-3, the master control unit 451 downloads the newsindex folder 501-13, weather forecast index folder 501-15 and trafficinformation index folder 501-17 in the communication unit 456 when astart event of the latest information guide is generated.

The news folder 501-10, weather forecast folder 501-11 and trafficinformation folder 501-12, which are children of the latest information

folder 501-4 are generated in the contents memory unit 388, and the newsindex folder 501-13 which is the child of the news folder 501-10, theweather forecast index folder 501-15 which is the child of the weatherforecast folder 501-11, and the traffic information index folder 501-17which is the child of the traffic information folder 501-12 are recordedtherein.

Stored in the index folder 501-13 of the contents memory unit 388 arethe play list 514-4, news guide contents 511-8 and master designationdata 515-4 downloaded from the information provision server 302.

Stored in the index folder 501-15 of the contents memory unit 388 arethe play list 514-5, weather forecast guide contents 511-9 and masterdesignation data 515-5 downloaded from the information provision server302.

Stored in the index folder 501-17 of the contents memory unit 388 arethe play list 514-6, traffic information guide contents 511-10 andmaster designation data 515-6 downloaded from the information provisionserver 302.

Further, the main folder 501-14 is arranged as the child of the newsfolder 501-10. The main folder 501-16 is arranged as the child of theweather forecast folder 501-11. The main folder 501-18 is arranged asthe child of the traffic information folder 501-12.

The main folder 501-14 as the child of the news folder 501-10, as shownin FIG. 62, for instance, contains a general folder 501-21, a socialfolder 501-22, an economic folder 501-23 and a sports folder 501-24.

Further, based on the master designation data 515, the informationprovision terminal device 301 downloads the play list 514-11 and generalnews folder 501-31 stored in the main folder 501-31 which is the childof the , general folder 501-21 from the information provision server302, downloads the play list 514-12 and social news folder 501-32 storedin the main folder 501-32 which is the child of the social folder501-22, downloads the play list 514-13 and economic news folder 501-33stored in the main folder 501-33 which is the child of the economicfolder 501-23, downloads the play list 514-14 and sports news folder501-34 stored in the main folder 501-34 which is the child of the sportsfolder 501-24, and stores these in the contents memory unit 388.

Moreover, based on the master designation data 515, the informationprovision terminal device 301 downloads the play list 514-21 and newscontents 511-21-1 to 511-21-n stored in the general news folder 501-31from the information provision server 302, and stores these in thecontents memory unit 388; downloads the play list 514-22 and newscontents 511-22-1 to 511-22-n stored in the social news folder 501-32,and stores these in the contents memory unit 388; downloads the playlist 514-23 and news contents 511-23-1 to 511-23-n stored in theeconomic news folder 501-33, and stores these in the contents memoryunit 388; and downloads the play list 514-24 and news contents 511-24-1to 511-24-n stored in the sports news folder 501-34 and stores these inthe contents memory unit 388.

As described above, the information provision terminal device 301sequentially downloads the contents 511, play list 514 and masterdesignation data 515 from the information provision server 302 via thenetwork 303, and stores the same.

As described above, in the information provision system pertaining tothe present invention, the download of information is induced based onthe reproduction of contents resulting from the user's operation. Datarequired in the contents can be designated with a single operation.

Further, the route for designating the folder and the data storedtherein, including the sub-folders, are all downloaded (distributed).Moreover, as a result of reproducing the contents, the subsequentcontents are automatically distributed, and the service is continuouslyprovided.

In addition, the downloaded contents can be renewed.

The activation processing of the information provision terminal device301 is now explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 64.

At step S11, the master control unit 451 reads information representingthe folder 501 from the initial pointer memory unit 458, designates thereproduction of the folder 501 represented with the read information tothe play list reader 452, and reads the master designation data 515stored in the folder 501 represented with the read information.

At step S12, the play list reader 452 reads the play list 514 from theindex folder 501, which is the folder 501 represented with the readinformation.

At step S13, the play list reader 452 designates the reproduction of theinitial contents written in the play list 514 to the player 453.

At step S14, the player 453 starts the reproduction of the initialcontents 511, and generates a reproduction start event. The reproductionstart event is supplied to the event processing unit 461.

At step S15, the event processing unit 461 supplies the reproductionstart event to the master control unit 451.

At step S16, the master control unit 451, in accordance with the masterdesignation data, downloads the guide folder, which is a child of theroute folder 501, from the information provision server 302 via thenetwork 303.

At step S17, when the master control unit 451 completes the download ofthe guide folder 501, it designates the reproduction of the guide folder501 to the play list reader 452, the contents 511 of the guide folder501 is reproduced, and the processing is ended thereby. In other words,when the download of the guide folder 501 is completed, reproduction ofthe guide is automatically started.

FIG. 65 is a flowchart for explaining the processing of the informationprovision terminal device 301 in relation to the event (command) of“start”, which is the voice of the user 1.

The step S1101, the event processing unit 461 acquires an event inrelation to “start”, which is the voice of the user 1, supplied from thevoice input unit 462, and supplies the acquired event to the mastercontrol unit 451.

At step S2101, as a result of the master control unit 451 reading theinitial value stored in the initial pointer memory unit 458 and settingthe read initial value in the current pointer 459, it sets the pointerto the initial value, and designates the reproduction of the folder 501represented with the initial value to the play list reader 452.

At step S3101, the play list reader 452 reads the play list 514 of theinitial value, which is the play list 514 stored in the folder 501designated from the master control unit 451. At step S3102, the playlist reader 452 determines the contents 511 to be reproduced based onthe play list 514, and reads the file type of the contents 511 to bereproduced from the contents 511 stored in the contents memory unit 388.

At step S3103, the play list reader 452 selects the player 453corresponding to the contents type. At step S3104, the play list reader452 notifies the file name of the contents 511 to be reproduced to theplayer 453 selected at the processing of step S3103.

At step S4101, the player 453 reproduces the contents specified with thefile name notified in the processing at step S3104, and the processingis ended thereby.

Incidentally, a pass name is contained in the file name. Unlessspecifically described in particular, the pass name shall be containedin the file name.

FIG. 66 is a flowchart for explaining the processing of the informationprovision terminal device 301 in relation to the event (command) of“next”, which is the voice of the user 1.

At step S1201, the event processing unit 461 acquires an event inrelation to “next”, which is the voice of the user 1, supplied from thevoice input unit 462, and supplies the acquired event to the mastercontrol unit 451. At step S2201, the master control unit 451 designatesthe suspension of reproduction of the contents to the play list reader452.

At step S3201, the play list reader 452 designates the suspension ofreproduction of the contents to the player 453. At step S4201, theplayer 453 suspends the reproduction of contents.

At step S2202, the master control unit 451 moves the pointer to the nextcontents so as to indicate the subject contents of the folder 501represented with the information stored in the current pointer 459. Atstep S2203, the master control unit 451 designates the reproduction ofthe subsequent contents 511 indicated with the pointer to the play listreader 452.

At step S3202, the play list reader 452 reads the file type of thecontents 511 in which the reproduction thereof was designated in theprocessing at step S2203 from the contents 511 stored in the contentsmemory unit 388. At step S3203, the play list reader 452 selects theplayer 453 corresponding to the contents type.

At step S3204, the play list reader 452 notifies the file name of thecontents 511 to be reproduced to the player 453 selected in theprocessing at step S3203. At step S4202, the player 453 reproduces thecontents specified with the file name notified in the processing at stepS3204, and the processing is ended thereby.

FIG. 67 and FIG. 68 are flowcharts for explaining the processing of theinformation provision terminal device 301 in relation to the event(command) of “delete”, which is the voice of the user 1.

At step S1301, the event processing unit 461 acquires an event inrelation to “delete, which is the voice of the user 1, supplied from thevoice input unit 462, and supplies the acquired event to the mastercontrol unit 451.

At step S2301, the master control unit 451 designates the suspension ofreproduction of the contents to the play list reader 452. At step S3301,the play list reader 452 designates the suspension of reproduction ofthe contents to the player 453.

At step S4301, the player 453 suspends the reproduction of contents Atstep S2302, the master control unit 451 pushes the value of the currentpointer 459 into the pointer stack 460.

At step S2303, the master control unit 451 writes the ID (Identifier) ofthe deletion guide contents 511 in the current pointer 459. At stepS2304, the master control unit 451 designates the reproduction of thecontents 511 represented with the current pointer 459 to the play listreader 452.

At step S3302, the play list reader 452 reads the file type of thecontents in which the reproduction thereof was designated in theprocessing at S2304 from the contents stored in the contents memory unit388. At step S3303, the play list reader 452 selects the player 453corresponding to the contents type.

At step S3304, the play list reader 452 notifies the file name of thecontents 511 to be reproduced to the player 453 selected in theprocessing at step S3303. At step S4302, the player 453 reproduces thecontents 511 of the deletion guide specified with the file name notifiedin the processing at step S3304.

At step S2305, the master control unit 451 becomes a state of standingby for a command. At step S1302, the event processing unit 461 acquiresan event in relation to “yes” or “no”, which is the voice of the user 1,supplied from the voice input unit 462, and supplies the acquired eventto the master control unit 451.

At step S2306, the master control unit 451 determines whether the eventsupplied from the event processing unit 461 is “yes”, and, when theevent is not “yes”; in other words, when the event is “no”, the[routine] proceeds to step S3305 since the user 1 is not desiring thedeletion of contents and the play list reader 452 designates thecontinuation of reproduction of the contents 511 to the player 453.

At step S4303, the player 453 continues the reproduction of the contents511 based on the designation of continuing the reproduction of thecontents 511 from the play list reader 452. Meanwhile, at step S2306,when the event is “yes”, the [routine] proceeds to S2307 since the user1 is desiring the deletion of contents and the master control unit 451deletes the contents represented with information stored at theuppermost part of the stack pointer 460 (information pushed immediatelybefore) from the contents memory unit 388.

At step S2308, if there is a play list 514, the master control unit 451deletes one line corresponding to the deleted contents 511 from the playlist 514. A value designating the subsequent contents 511 on the playlist 514 is set in the current pointer 459. At step S3306, the play listreader 452 reads the file type of the contents 511 designated with thecurrent pointer 459 from the contents 511 stored in the contents memoryunit 388.

At step S3307, the play list reader 452 selects the player 453corresponding to the contents type. At step S3308, the play list reader452 notifies the file name of the contents 511 to be reproduced to theplayer 453 selected in the processing at step S3307.

At step S4304, the player 453 reproduces the contents 511 specified withthe file name notified in the processing at step S3308, and theprocessing is ended thereby.

FIG. 69 to FIG. 72 are flowcharts for explaining the processing of theinformation provision terminal device 301 in relation to the event(command) of “request”, which is the voice of the user 1.

At step S1501, the event processing unit 461 acquires an event inrelation to “request”, which is the voice of the user 1, supplied fromthe voice input unit 462, and supplies the acquired event to the mastercontrol unit 451. At step S2501, the master control unit 451 designatesthe suspension of reproduction of the contents to the play list reader452.

At step S3501, the play list reader 452 designates the suspension ofreproduction of the contents to the player 453. At step S4501, theplayer 453 suspends the reproduction of contents.

At step S2502, the master control unit 451 pushes the value of thecurrent pointer 459 into the pointer stack 460. At step S2503, themaster control unit 451 writes the ID of the request guide contents 511in the current pointer 459.

At step S2504, the master control unit 451 designates the reproductionof the contents 511 represented with the current pointer 459 to the playlist reader 452. At step S3502, the play list reader 452 reads the filetype of the contents 511 in which the reproduction thereof wasdesignated in the processing at step S2504 from the contents 511 storedin the contents memory unit 388.

At step S3503, the play list reader 452 selects the player correspondingto the contents type. At step S3504, the play list reader 452 notifiesthe file name of the contents 511 to be reproduced to the player 453selected in the processing at step S3503.

At step S4502, the player 453 reproduces the contents 511 of the requestguide specified with the file name notified in the processing at stepS3504. At step S2505, the master control unit 451 becomes a state ofstanding by for a command.

At step S1502, the event processing unit 461 acquires the contentsdesignation command, which is the event in relation to the voice of theuser 1 supplied from the voice input unit 462, and supplies the acquiredevent to the master control unit 451.

The contents designation command, for example, is “music jazz 3” or thelike.

At step S2506, the master control unit 451 determines whether the eventsupplied from the event processing unit 461 is a contents request, and,when the event is not a contents request, the [routine] proceeds to stepS3505 since the user 1 is not desiring a contents request, and the playlist reader 452 designates the continuation of reproduction of thecontents 511 to the player 453.

At step S4503, the player 453 continues the reproduction of the contents511 based on the designation of continuing the reproduction of thecontents 511 from the play list reader 452.

Meanwhile, at step S2506, when the event is a contents request, the[routine] proceeds to step S2507 since the user 1 is desiring a contentsrequest, and the master control unit 451 designates the download of the(contents 511 of the) folder 501 specified in the contents request tothe communication unit 456. The master control unit 451 specifies thefolder 501 subject to such download from the contents request based onthe master designation data 515 or dynamic command map data 812.

The communication unit 456 requests the download of the (contents 511 ofthe) folder 501 requested to the information provision server 302 viathe network 303, and receives the (contents 511 of the) folder 501transmitted from the information provision server 302.

At step S2508, the master control unit 451 pops the value from thepointer stack 460 to the current pointer 459. At step S1503, the eventprocessing unit 461 supplies the download completion event to the mastercontrol unit 451 when such download completion event is supplied fromthe communication unit 456, and notifies the completion of download.

At step S2509, the master control unit 451 writes the file name of thedownload completion guide in the current pointer 459. At step S2510, themaster control unit 451 designates the reproduction of the downloadcompletion contents 511 represented with the current pointer 459 to theplay list reader 452.

At step S3506, the play list reader 452 reads the file type of thecontents in which the reproduction thereof was designated in theprocessing at step S2510 from the contents 511 stored in the contentsmemory unit 388. At step S3507, the play list reader 452 selects theplayer 453 corresponding to the contents type. At step S3508, the playlist reader 452 notifies the file name of the contents 511 to bereproduced to the player 453 selected in the processing at step S3507.

At step S4504, the player 453 reproduces the download completioncontents 511 specified with the file name notified in the processing atstep S3508. At step S2511, the master control unit 451 becomes a stateof standing by for a command.

At step S1504, the event processing unit 461 acquires an event inrelation to “yes” or “no”, which is the voice of the user 1 suppliedfrom the voice input unit 462, and supplies the acquired event to themaster control unit 451.

At step S2512, the master control unit 451 determines whether the eventsupplied from the event processing unit 461 is “yes”, and, when theevent is not “yes”; in other words, when the event is “no”, the[routine] proceeds to step S3509 since the user 1 is not desiring thedeletion of contents and the play list reader 452 designates thecontinuation of reproduction of the contents 511 to the player 453.

At step S4505, the player 453 continues the reproduction of the contents511 based on the designation of continuing the reproduction of thecontents 511 from the play list reader 452.

Meanwhile, at step S2512, when the event is “yes”, the [routine]proceeds to S2513 since the user 1 is desiring the deletion of contentsand the master control unit 451 writes information designating thecontents 511 of the completely download folder 501 to the currentpointer 459. At step S2514, the master control unit 451 designates thereproduction of the contents 511 represented with the current pointer459 to the play list reader 452.

At step S3510, the play list reader 452 reads the file type of thecontents 511 in which the reproduction thereof was designated in theprocessing at step S2514 from the contents 511 stored in the contentsmemory unit 388. At step S3511, the play list reader 452 selects theplayer 453 corresponding to the contents type.

At step S3512, the play list reader 452 notifies the file name of thecontents 511 to be reproduced to the player 453 selected in theprocessing at step S3511. At step S4506, the player 453 reproduces thedownloaded contents 511 specified with the file name notified in theprocessing at step S3512, and the processing is ended thereby.

FIG. 73 is a flowchart for explaining the processing of the informationprovision terminal device 301 in relation to the event from theinformation provision server 302.

At step S1901, the event processing unit 461 acquires the contentsrenewal event transmitted from the information provision server 302 andsupplied from the communication unit 456, and supplies the acquiredcontents renewal event to the master control unit 451. The contentsrenewal event, for instance, represents the renewal of the contents 511of a weather forecast.

At step S2901, the master control unit 451 designates the suspension ofreproduction of the contents to the play of list reader 452. At stepS3901, the play list reader 452 designates the suspension ofreproduction of the contents to the player 453. At step S4901, theplayer 453 suspends the reproduction of the contents.

Further, at step S2901, the master control unit 451 designates thedownload of the renewed contents to the communication unit 456. Themaster control unit 451 specifies the folder 501 to become the subjectof download from the contents renewal event based on the masterdesignation data 515 or dynamic command map data 812.

The communication unit 456 requests the download of the (contents 511 ofthe) folder 501 (here, the weather forecast contents 511) to theinformation provision server 302 via the network 303, and receives the(contents 511 of the) folder 501 transmitted from the informationprovision server 302.

At step S2902, the master control unit 451 replaces the contents 511stored in the contents memory unit 388 with the downloaded contents 511.In other words, the contents 511 stored in the contents memory unit 388are replaced with the new contents 511.

At step S2903, the master control unit 451 writes the ID of thedownloaded contents in the current pointer 459. At step S2904, themaster control unit 451 designates the reproduction of the contents 511represented with the current pointer 459 to the play list reader 452.

At step S3902, the play list reader 452 reads the file type of thecontents 511 in which the reproduction thereof was designated in theprocessing at step S2904 from the contents 511 stored in the contentsmemory unit 388. At step S3903, the play list reader 452 selects theplayer 453 corresponding to the contents type.

At step S3904, the play list reader 452 notifies the file name of thecontents 511 to be reproduced to the player 453 selected in theprocessing at step S3903. At step S4902, the player 453 reproduces thedownloaded contents 511 specified with the file name notified in theprocessing at step S3304, and the processing is ended thereby.

Next, details regarding the processing of the master control unit 451are explained.

FIG. 74 is a flowchart for explaining the activation processing of themaster control unit 451.

At step S51, the master control unit 451 reads the initial pointer fromthe initial pointer memory unit 458, and sets it in the current foldermemory unit 702. At step S52, the master control unit 451 empties thecurrent pointer 459.

At step S53, the master control unit 451 executes the contents folderreproduction processing, and the processing is ended thereby.

FIG. 75 is a flowchart for explaining the contents folder reproductionprocessing in detail.

At step S71, the master control unit 451 reads the folder 501 referredto by the current folder memory unit 702 from the contents memory unit388.

At step S72, the master control unit 451 determines whether the folder501 contains the dynamic command map data 812, and, when it isdetermined that the folder 501 contains the dynamic command map data812, the [routine] proceeds to step S73, and the [master control unit451] reads the dynamic command map data 812, pushes the dynamic commandmap data 812 into the dynamic command stack 704, and the routineproceeds to step S74.

At step S74, the master control unit 451 determines whether the folder501 contains the master designation data 515, and, when it is determinedthat the folder 501 contains the master designation data 515, the[routine] proceeds to step S75, and the [master control unit 451] readsthe master designation data 515, pushes the master designation data 515into the master designation data stack 705, and the routine proceeds tostep S76.

At step S76, the master control unit 451 designates the play list 501contained in the folder 501, designates the reproduction thereof to theplay list reader 452, and the processing is ended thereby.

At step S72, when it is determined that the folder 501 does not containthe dynamic command map data 812, the [routine] proceeds to step S77,the void information (information representing that it is empty) ispushed into the dynamic command stack 704, and the routine proceeds tostep S74.

At step S74, when it is determined that the folder 501 does not containthe master designation data 515, the [routine] proceeds to step S78, thevoid information is pushed into the master designation data stack 705,and the routine proceeds to step S76.

FIG. 76 is a flowchart for explaining the event input processing by themaster control unit 451.

At step S101, the master control unit 451 determines whether the inputevent is a system control command, and, when it is determined that theevent is not a system control command, the [routine] proceeds to stepS102, and searches for the input event in order from the top of thecommand map stack.

At step S103, the master control unit 451 determines whether there is adescription of the event input to the command map data 811, and, when itis determined that there is no description of the event input to thecommand map data 811, the [routine] proceeds to step S104, and searchesfor the input event, while ignoring the void information, in the orderof new entry of the dynamic command stack 704.

At step S105, the master control unit 451 determines whether there is adescription of the event input to the dynamic command map data 812, and,when it is determined that there is no description of the event input tothe dynamic command map data 812, the [routine] proceeds to step S106,and searches for the input event, while ignoring the void information,in the order of new entry of the master designation data stack 705.

At step S107, the master control unit 451 determines whether there is adescription of the event input to the master designation data 515, and,when it is determined that there is a description of the event input tothe master designation data 515, the [routine] proceeds to step S108,and executes the processing of the input event based on the commanddescribed in correspondence to the event input to the master designationdata 515.

At step S107, when it is determined that there is no description of theevent input to the master designation data 515, since the input event isnot a system control command, and not described in the command map data811, dynamic command map data 812 and master designation data 515, theprocessing is ended thereby.

At step S101, when it is determined that the event is a system controlcommand, the [routine] proceeds to step S109, and the master controlunit 451 executes system control processing, and the processing is endedthereby.

At step S103, when it is determined that there is a description of theevent input to the command map data 811, the [routine] proceeds to stepS110, and determines whether the input event is a player reproductioncontrol command, and, when the input event is determined to be a playerreproduction control command, the [routine] proceeds to step S11, andthe master control unit 451 executes the player reproduction controlcorresponding to the input event, which is the player reproductioncontrol command, and the processing is ended thereby.

At step S110, when it is determined that the input event is not a playerreproduction control command, the [routine] proceeds to step S112, andthe master control unit 451 pushes the value of the current pointer 459into the pointer stack 460.

At step S113, the master control unit 451 pushes the current folderinformation stored in the current folder memory unit 702 to the folderstack 703. At step S114, the master control unit 451 sets the entryfolder information discovered in the search of the command map data 811or dynamic command map data 812 in the current folder memory unit 702.

At step S115, the master control unit 451 executes the contents folderreproduction processing, and the processing is ended thereby.Incidentally, the contents folder reproduction processing at step S115is the same as the processing explained with reference to the flowchartshown in FIG. 75.

At step S105, when it is determined that there is a description of theevent input to the dynamic command map data 812, the [routine] proceedsto step S112, and executes the foregoing processing.

FIG. 77 is a flowchart for explaining the previous command processing.

At step S141, the master control unit 451 command the play list reader452 to reproduce the immediately preceding contents described in theplay list 514. At step S141, the play list reader 452 which isdesignated by the master control unit 451 command the player 453 toreproduce the immediately preceding contents described in the play list514, and the processing is ended thereby.

FIG. 78 is a flowchart for explaining the subsequent command processing.

At step S161, the master control unit 451 command the play list reader452 to reproduce the subsequent contents described in the play list 514.At step S161, the play list reader 452 which is designated by the mastercontrol unit 451 command the player 453 to reproduce the subsequentcontents described in the play list 514, and the processing is endedthereby.

FIG. 79 is a flowchart for explaining the return command processing.

At step S201, the master control unit 451 determines whether the pointerstack 460 is empty, and, when the pointer stack 460 is not empty; thatis, when the pointer information is stored in the pointer stack 460, the[routine] proceeds to step S202, and the master control unit 451 popsthe folder information from the folder stack 703, and sets the poppedfolder information in the current folder memory unit 702.

At step S203, the master control unit 451 pops the pointer informationfrom the pointer stack 460, and sets it in the current pointer 459. Atstep S204, the master control unit 451 executes the contents folderreproduction processing, and the processing is ended thereby.Incidentally, the contents folder reproduction processing at step S204is the same as the processing explained with reference to the flowchartshown in FIG. 75.

At step S201, when it is determined that the pointer stack 460 is empty,the processing will end.

As described above, when a return command is input, the master controlunit 451 is able to reproduce the contents 511 stored in the folder 501reproduced previously.

FIG. 80 is a flowchart for explaining the processing of reproductiondesignation of contents By the play list reader 452.

At step S241, the play list reader 452 sets the folder 501 containingthe play list 514 designated from the master control unit 451 in theplaying folder memory unit.

At step S242, the play list reader 452 determines whether the currentpointer 459 is empty, and, when it is determined that the currentpointer 459 is empty, the [routine] proceeds to step S243, and furtherdetermines whether the play list 514 is empty. At step S243, when it isdetermined that the play list 514 is not empty, the [routine] proceedsto step S244, and the play list reader 452 sets the value of the playlist pointer to 1.

At step S245, the play list reader 452 whether the contents 511 of theplay list position is a folder 501; in other words, whether the contents511 in a position designated with the play list pointer in the play list514 is a folder 501, and, when it is determined that it is not a folder501, the [routine] proceeds to step S246.

At step S246, the play list reader 452 checks the type of contents 511of the contents ID in the play list pointer position of the contentsmemory unit 388. In other words, the play list reader 452 acquiresinformation representing the type of contents 511 in a positiondesignated with the play list pointer in the play list 514 stored in thecontents memory unit 388.

At step S247, the play list reader 452 selects the player 453 accordingto the type of contents 511, designates the contents ID, and designatesthe reproduction thereof to the player 453. At step S248, the play listreader 452 checks the state of the player 453, and stores thereproduction passage information in the current pointer 459.

At step S249, the play list reader 452 waits for a periodicalconfirmation time. At step S250, the play list reader 452 determineswhether the reproduction of the player 453 has finished, and, when it isdetermined that the reproduction of the player 453 has not finished, the[routine] returns to step S248, and repeats the foregoing processing.

At step S250, when it is determined that the reproduction of the player453 has finished, the [routine] proceeds to step S251, and the play listreader 452 empties the current pointer 459.

At step S252, the play list reader 452 increases the value of the playlist pointer by 1. At step S253, the play list reader 452 determineswhether the play list pointer was the final contents 511; that is,whether the contents 511 in a position designated with the play listpointer in the play list 514 are the final contents 511, and, when it isdetermined that is was not the final contents 511, the [routine] returnsto step S245, and repeats the foregoing processing.

At step S253, when it is determined that it is the final contents 511,the [routine] proceeds to step S254, requests the folder exit eventprocessing to the master control unit 451, and the processing is endedthereby. Details of the folder exit event processing will be describedlater.

At step S242, when it is determined that the current pointer 459 is notempty, the [routine] proceeds to step S255, and the play list reader 452designates the reproduction from the indication of the current pointer459 to the player 453, and the [routine] proceeds to step S248. At stepS245, when it is determined to be a folder 501, the [routine] proceedsto step S256, and the play list reader 452 pushes the value of theplaying folder memory unit into the playing folder stack.

At step S257, the play list reader 452 requests the folder enter eventprocessing to the master control unit 451, and the processing is endedthereby.

FIG. 81 is a flowchart for explaining the folder enter event processingcorresponding to step S257.

At step S301, the master control unit 451 pushes the current folderinformation stored in the current folder memory unit 702 into the folderstack 703. At step S302, the master control unit 451 sets the folderinformation of the folder enter event in the current folder memory unit702.

At step S303, the master control unit 451 executes the contents folderreproduction processing, and the processing is ended thereby.Incidentally, the contents folder reproduction processing at step S303is the same as the processing explained with reference to the flowchartshown in FIG. 75.

FIG. 82 is a flowchart for explaining the folder exit event processingcorresponding to step S254.

At step S351, the master control unit 451 pops 1 set of command map data811 from the dynamic command stack 704.

At step S352, the master control unit 451 pops 1 set of masterdesignation data from the master designation data stack 705.

At step S353, the master control unit 451 determines whether the pointerstack 460 is empty, and, when it is determined that the pointer stack460 is empty, the [routine] proceeds to step S354, pops the folderinformation from the folder stack 703, and sets the folder informationin the current folder memory unit 702.

At step S355, the master control unit 451 pops the pointer informationfrom the pointer stack 460, and sets it in the current pointer 459.

At step S356, the master control unit 451 executes the contents folderreproduction processing, and the processing is ended thereby.Incidentally, the contents folder reproduction processing at step S356is the same as the processing explained with reference to the flowchartshown in FIG. 75.

At step S353, when it is determined that the pointer stack 460 is empty,the [routine] proceeds to step S357, and the master control unit 451determines whether the folder stack 703 is empty, and, when it isdetermined that the folder stack 703 is empty, the processing is endedthereby.

At step S357, when it is determined that the folder stack 703 is notempty, the [routine] proceeds to step S358, and the master control unit451 pops the folder information from the folder stack 703, and sets thefolder information in the current folder memory unit 702.

At step S359, the master control unit 451 executes the contents folderreproduction processing, and the processing is ended thereby.Incidentally, the contents folder reproduction processing at step S359is the same as the processing explained with reference to the flowchartshown in FIG. 75.

As described above, when information is output, information can beprovided to a user.

Further, when the event response control program associated with anaggregate containing information being output is read, the output ofsuch aggregate is controlled based on the read event response controlprogram and in correspondence with an event, and the output ofinformation containing the aggregate is controlled based on the ordinaldata associated with the aggregate the output of which has beeninstructed, this will enable the continuous output of requiredinformation at an appropriate timing and in appropriate order withminimal operation.

When information is to be received, the received information can beoutput.

Moreover, when the reception of the aggregate is controlled based on anevent response control program associated with the aggregate, whichcontains the information being output, within the event response controlprogram having described therein a command for an event associated witheach of the aggregates, and in correspondence with the event; and thetransmission of the request of the aggregate, the reception of which hasbeen designated at the aggregate reception control step, to theinformation provision device for providing the information iscontrolled, and the reception of the information belonging to therequested aggregate and the event response control program associatedwith the requested aggregate provided from the information provisiondevice is controlled, this will enable the continuous reception ofrequired information at an appropriate timing and in appropriate orderwith minimal operation.

In addition, when the memory of the information having a hierarchicalstructure with an aggregate of the information as the unit thereof andthe memory of the event response control program having describedtherein a command for an event on the reception side associated witheach of the aggregates are controlled; and the transmission of theinformation belonging to the requested aggregate and the event responsecontrol program associated with the requested aggregate to theinformation reception device when the aggregate is requested from theinformation reception device for receiving the information iscontrolled, this will enable the continuous reception of requiredinformation at an appropriate timing and in appropriate order withminimal operation.

When the program is associated with a first aggregate, which is anaggregate among the aggregates; [the program] is read into the computerfor controlling the output or reception of the information when theinformation belonging to the first aggregate or the informationbelonging to the aggregate of the descendant of the first aggregate isbeing output; and [the program] makes the computer execute theprocessing in relation to at least the output of a second aggregate,which is another aggregate among the aggregates, or the reception of thesecond aggregate when a prescribed event occurs, it will be possible toenable the continuous output of required information at an appropriatetiming and in appropriate order with minimal operation, or enable thecontinuous reception of required information at an appropriate timingand in appropriate order with minimal operation.

Further, in addition to information being stored, when the eventresponse control program having described therein a command for an eventon the reception side associated with each of the aggregates is stored;information belonging to the requested aggregate and the event responsecontrol program associated with the requested aggregate to theinformation reception device when the aggregate is requested from theinformation reception device for receiving the information aretransmitted; reception of the aggregate is controlled based on an eventresponse control program associated with the aggregate, which containsthe information being output, within the event response control programhaving described therein a command for an event associated with each ofthe aggregates, and in correspondence with the event; request of theaggregate, the reception of which has been designated, to theinformation provision device is transmitted, and information belongingto the requested aggregate and the event response control programassociated with the requested aggregate provided from the informationprovision device is received, this will enable the continuous output ofrequired information at an appropriate timing and in appropriate orderwith minimal operation in the information reception device.

The foregoing series of processing may be executed with hardware, andmay also be executed with software. When executing series of processingwith software, the program constituting such software is installed froma recording medium into a computer built in dedicated hardware, or intoa versatile personal computer capable of executing the variousfunctions.

As shown in FIG. 22, FIG. 23 or FIG. 24, this recording medium isconstituted from a package media, separate from a computer, such as amagnetic disk 391 or magnetic disk 411 (including a flexible disk),optical disk 392 or optical disk 412 (including a CD-ROM (CompactDisc-Read Only Memory) and DVD (Digital Versatile Disc)), magneticoptical disk 393 or magnetic optical disk 413, or semiconductor memory394 or semiconductor memory 414 having a program recorded thereon and tobe distributed for providing a program to a user, or may be constitutedof a ROM 383 or ROM 403, or a hard disk not shown having a programrecorded thereon to be provided to a user in a state of beingpre-installed in a computer.

Incidentally, in the present description, the step of describing aprogram stored in the recording medium includes processing to beperformed in chronological order along the described order, as well asprocessing to be performed serially or individually even if it is notprocessed in chronological order.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, according to the first present invention,information can be output to a user.

Further, according to the first present invention, appropriateinformation can be continuously output at an appropriate timing and inappropriate order with minimal operations.

According to the second present invention, a [user] is able to receiveinformation.

Moreover, according to the second present invention, appropriateinformation can be continuously received at an appropriate timing and inappropriate order with minimal operations.

1. An information output device for outputting information having ahierarchical structure with an aggregate of said information as the unitthereof, comprising: aggregate output control means for controlling theoutput of said aggregate based on an event response control programassociated with said aggregate which contains said information beingoutput, of event response control programs having described therein acommand for an event associated with each of said aggregates, and incorrespondence with said event; and information output control means forcontrolling the output of said information contained in said aggregatebased on ordinal data associated with said aggregate, in which theoutput thereof has been instructed by said aggregate output controlmeans, of ordinal data having described therein the output order of saidinformation associated with each of said aggregates.
 2. An informationoutput device according to claim 1, wherein said aggregate outputcontrol means controls the output of said aggregate based on said eventresponse control program associated with said aggregate containing saidinformation being output, and said event response control programassociated with said aggregate of the ancestor of said aggregatecontaining said information being output, and in correspondence withsaid event.
 3. An information output device according to claim 1,further comprising reproduction means for reproducing said informationto be output based on the control of said information output controlmeans and in correspondence with the type of said information.
 4. Aninformation output device according to claim 1, further comprising eventgeneration means for acquiring the outside status and generating saidevent.
 5. An information output device according to claim 1, furthercomprising memory control means for controlling the memory of saidinformation, said event response control program, and said ordinal data.6. An information output device according to claim 1, further comprisingcommunication control means for controlling the transmission of arequest of said aggregate, the reception of which has been instructed bysaid aggregate output control means, to the information provision devicefor providing said information, and controlling the reception of saidinformation belonging to said requested aggregate as well as said eventresponse control program and said ordinal data associated with saidrequested aggregate, provided from said information provision device. 7.An information output device according to claim 1, wherein saidaggregate output control means rewrites said ordinal data.
 8. Aninformation output method for outputting information having ahierarchical structure with an aggregate of said information as the unitthereof, comprising: an aggregate output control step for controllingthe output of said aggregate based on an event response control programassociated with said aggregate which contains said information beingoutput, of event response control programs having described therein acommand for an event associated with each of said aggregates, and incorrespondence with said event; and an information output control stepfor controlling the output of said information contained in saidaggregate based on ordinal data associated with said aggregate, theoutput of which has been instructed at said aggregate output controlstep, of the ordinal data having described therein the output order ofsaid information associated with each of said aggregates.
 9. A recordingmedium having recorded thereon a computer-readable program for making acomputer execute processing for controlling the output of informationhaving a hierarchical structure with an aggregate of said information asthe unit thereof, said program comprising: an aggregate output controlstep for controlling the output of said aggregate based on an eventresponse control program associated with said aggregate which containssaid information being output, of event response control programs havingdescribed therein a command for an event associated with each of saidaggregates, and in correspondence with said event; and an informationoutput control step for controlling the output of said informationcontained in said aggregate based on ordinal data associated with saidaggregate, the output of which has been instructed at said aggregateoutput control step, of the ordinal data having described therein theoutput order of said information associated with each of saidaggregates.
 10. A computer-readable program for making a computerexecute processing for controlling the output of information having ahierarchical structure with an aggregate of said information as the unitthereof, said program comprising: an aggregate output control step forcontrolling the output of said aggregate based on an event responsecontrol program associated with said aggregate which contains saidinformation being output, of event response control programs havingdescribed therein a command for an event associated with each of saidaggregates, and in correspondence with said event; and an informationoutput control step for controlling the output of said informationcontained in said aggregate based on ordinal data associated with saidaggregate, the output of which has been instructed at said aggregateoutput control step, of the ordinal data having described therein theoutput order of said information associated with each of saidaggregates.
 11. An information reception device for receivinginformation having a hierarchical structure with an aggregate of saidinformation as the unit thereof, comprising: aggregate reception controlmeans for controlling the reception of said aggregate based on an eventresponse control program associated with said aggregate, which containssaid information being output, of event response control programs havingdescribed therein a command for an event associated with each of saidaggregates, and in correspondence with said event; and communicationcontrol means for controlling the transmission of the request of saidaggregate, the reception of which has been instructed by said aggregatereception control means, to the information provision device forproviding said information, and controlling the reception of saidinformation belonging to said requested aggregate and said eventresponse control program associated with said requested aggregateprovided from said information provision device.
 12. An informationreception device according to claim 11, wherein said aggregate receptioncontrol means controls the reception of said aggregate based on saidevent response control program associated with said aggregate containingsaid information being output, and said event response control programassociated with said aggregate of the ancestor of said aggregatecontaining said information being output, and in correspondence withsaid event.
 13. An information reception device according to claim 11,further comprising memory control means for controlling the memory ofsaid received information and said event response control program. 14.An information reception method for receiving information having ahierarchical structure with an aggregate of said information as the unitthereof, comprising: an aggregate reception control step for controllingthe reception of said aggregate based on an event response controlprogram associated with said aggregate which contains said informationbeing output, of event response control programs having describedtherein a command for an event associated with each of said aggregates,and in correspondence with said event; and a communication control stepfor controlling the transmission of the request of said aggregate thereception of which has been instructed at said aggregate receptioncontrol step, to the information provision device for providing saidinformation, and controlling the reception of said information belongingto said requested aggregate and said event response control programassociated with said requested aggregate, provided from said informationprovision device.
 15. A recording medium having recorded thereon acomputer-readable program for making a computer execute processing forcontrolling the reception of information having a hierarchical structurewith an aggregate of said information as the unit thereof, said programcomprising: an aggregate reception control step for controlling thereception of said aggregate based on an event response control programassociated with said aggregate, which contains said information beingoutput, of event response control programs having described therein acommand for an event associated with each of said aggregates, and incorrespondence with said event; and a communication control step forcontrolling the transmission of the request of said aggregate, thereception of which has been instructed at said aggregate receptioncontrol step, to the information provision device for providing saidinformation, and controlling the reception of said information belongingto said requested aggregate and said event response control programassociated with said requested aggregate provided from said informationprovision device.
 16. A computer-readable program for making a computerexecute processing for controlling the reception of information having ahierarchical structure with an aggregate of said information as the unitthereof, said program comprising: an aggregate reception control stepfor controlling the reception of said aggregate based on an eventresponse control program associated with said aggregate which containssaid information being output, of said event response control programshaving described therein a command for an event associated with each ofsaid aggregates, and in correspondence with said event; and acommunication control step for controlling the transmission of therequest of said aggregate, the reception of which has been instructed atsaid aggregate reception control step, to the information provisiondevice for providing said information, and controlling the reception ofsaid information belonging to said requested aggregate and said eventresponse control program associated with said requested aggregateprovided from said information provision device.
 17. An informationprovision device, comprising: memory control means for controlling thememory of said information having a hierarchical structure with anaggregate of said information as the unit thereof, and controlling thememory of event response control programs having described therein acommand for an event on the reception side associated with each of saidaggregates; and transmission control means for controlling, when saidaggregate is requested from said information reception device forreceiving said information, the transmission of said informationbelonging to said requested aggregate and said event response controlprogram associated with said requested aggregate, to said informationreception device.
 18. An information provision device according to claim17, wherein said memory control means further controls the memory ofordinal data having described therein the output order of saidinformation associated with each of said aggregates; and when saidaggregate is requested from said information reception device, saidtransmission control means further controls the transmission of saidordinal data associated with said requested aggregate to saidinformation reception device.
 19. An information provision method,comprising: a memory control step for controlling the memory of saidinformation having a hierarchical structure with an aggregate of saidinformation as the unit thereof, and controlling the memory of eventresponse control programs having described therein a command for anevent on the reception side associated with each of said aggregates; anda transmission control step for controlling, when said aggregate isrequested from said information reception device for receiving saidinformation, the transmission of said information belonging to saidrequested aggregate and said event response control program associatedwith said requested aggregate to said information reception device. 20.A recording medium having recorded thereon a computer-readable program,comprising: a memory control step for controlling the memory of saidinformation having a hierarchical structure with an aggregate of saidinformation as the unit thereof, and controlling the memory of eventresponse control programs having described therein a command for anevent on the reception side associated with each of said aggregates; anda transmission control step for controlling, when said aggregate isrequested from said information reception device for receiving saidinformation, the transmission of said information belonging to saidrequested aggregate and said event response control program associatedwith said requested aggregate, to said information reception device. 21.A computer-readable program, comprising: a memory control step forcontrolling the memory of said information having a hierarchicalstructure with an aggregate of said information as the unit thereof, andcontrolling the memory of event response control programs havingdescribed therein a command for an event on the reception sideassociated with each of said aggregates; and a transmission control stepfor controlling, when said aggregate is requested from said informationreception device for receiving said information, the transmission ofsaid information belonging to said requested aggregate and said eventresponse control program associated with said requested aggregate, tosaid information reception device.
 22. A program for controlling theoutput or reception of information having a hierarchical structure withan aggregate of said information as the unit thereof, wherein saidprogram is associated with a first aggregate, which is an aggregateamong said aggregates; said program is read into the computer forcontrolling the output or reception of said information when saidinformation belonging to said first aggregate or said informationbelonging to the aggregate of the descendant of said first aggregate isbeing output; and said program makes said computer execute at least oneof of the output of a second aggregate, which is another aggregate amongsaid aggregates and the reception of said second aggregate when aprescribed event occurs.
 23. An information provision system comprisingan information provision device for providing information having ahierarchical structure with an aggregate of said information as the unitthereof, and an information reception device for receiving saidinformation; wherein said information provision device comprises: memorycontrol means for controlling the memory of said informationhierarchical structure, and controlling the memory of event responsecontrol programs having described therein a command for an event in theinformation reception device associated with each of said aggregates;and transmission control means for controlling, when said aggregate isrequested from said information reception device, the transmission ofsaid information belonging to said requested aggregate and said eventresponse control program associated with said requested aggregate to theinformation reception device ; and wherein information reception devicecomprises: aggregate reception control means for controlling thereception of said aggregate based on an event response control programassociated with said aggregate, which contains said information beingoutput, of the event response control programs, and in correspondencewith said event; and communication control means for controlling thetransmission of the request of said aggregate, the reception of whichhas been instructed by said aggregate reception control means, to theinformation provision device, and controlling the reception of saidinformation belonging to said requested aggregate and said eventresponse control program associated with said requested aggregate,provided from said information provision device.
 24. An informationprovision method, comprising: a memory control step for controlling thememory of said information having a hierarchical structure with anaggregate of said information as the unit thereof, and controlling thememory of event response control programs having described therein acommand for an event in the information reception device associated witheach of said aggregates; a transmission control step for controlling,when said aggregate is requested from said information reception device,the transmission of said information belonging to said requestedaggregate and said event response control program associated with saidrequested aggregate to the information reception device; an aggregatereception control step for controlling the reception of said aggregatebased on an event response control program associated with saidaggregate which contains said information being output, of the eventresponse control programs, and in correspondence with said event; and acommunication control step for controlling the transmission of therequest of said aggregate, the reception of which has been instructed atsaid aggregate reception control step, to the information provisiondevice, and controlling the reception of said information belonging tosaid requested aggregate and said event response control programassociated with said requested aggregate provided from said informationprovision device.